Page 4038 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 24 October 1990
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For the information of members opposite, a charge of offensive behaviour does not look too good on a record. It carries a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for six months. I remind members opposite that the most you can get fined for failing to move on is $200. It is not a gaoling offence; it is not as serious an offence as that of offensive behaviour. Remember that, of 1,450 people moved on, only 12 were arrested. That has led to a decrease in court time for offences which need not come before courts. Many offences used to come before courts because the police simply did not have the power to stop trouble before it started. It is one of the real instances in which crime prevention can be seen to be occurring in the ACT.
Mr Speaker, I will read now from the police report that was tendered to this Assembly and from another one which I understand the Attorney-General will be tabling.
Mr Wood: As a result of my question it was tendered, was it not?
MR STEFANIAK: It was being tendered anyway, Mr Wood, I will have you know.
Mr Wood: As a result of my question, it says. Read it.
MR STEFANIAK: Your question of 20 March certainly might have prompted something, but there is another police report as well.
Mr Wood: Thank you. It was not coming otherwise.
MR STEFANIAK: It was available when you made your speech. In the conclusion to that report, dated 20 April 1990, which is before the Assembly, Assistant Commissioner Bates says:
Implementation of this legislation has resulted in police, in certain circumstances, removing the potential for:
i. violent situations developing;
ii. members of the general public feeling intimidated; and
iii. damage being caused to property.
The power is considered a valuable law enforcement tool.
In the conclusion to a report that was tendered to the Assembly on 8 August 1990 he states:
From a policing point of view this legislation continues to be an effective means of preventing the commission of crimes involving violence.
Mr Speaker, let us look now at a few of the situations described in the first report, which is before the Assembly, to indicate just how effective this power is. A
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