A new community safety plan has been unveiled by The Nationals and Liberals to reverse the concerning crime crisis impacting families and businesses.
The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath said locals had enough of rising crime that had infiltrated every corner of the state.
“Each week my office is contacted by concerned residents who no longer feel safe in their home and at the shops.
“The Allan Government is soft on crime, and it’s turned Victoria’s bail system into a roundabout that directs repeat criminals back on our streets time and again.
“The Nationals strongly back jail for serious offenders who break bail.
“The lack of consequences for criminals under Labor has created crime crisis that must be reversed – residents have had enough of living in fear.
“Labor’s reforms have failed to make a dent in criminal activity as they don’t go far enough.”
Bail and sentencing reforms which are part of The Nationals and Liberals Safer Communities Plan involves hiring 3,000 more police, 200 new PSOs, reopening more than 40 police stations and returning PSOs to 120 train stations, as well as investing in crime prevention and rehabilitation initiatives.
Ms Bath said our hardworking police officers had been badly let down by the Allan Government.
“Crime is at an all time high – a criminal offence is occurring every 50 seconds in Victoria, there is 367 fewer full time police office now that when Jacinta Allan became Premier, 1500 officer vacancies with 41 stations closed or operating on reduced hours.
“We are committed to ensuring police have the resources and tools they need to respond quickly to incidents, investigate crime, deter criminal activity and maintain a visible presence in our communities to keep families safe.”
The Nationals’ and Liberals Safer Communities Plan:
- Implement genuine Adult Crime, Adult Time laws by expanding the number of serious offences uplifted to the County Court by adding a further twelve offences, including burglary, serious assault and attempted murder.
- Transfer bail applications for the expanded list of serious offences to the County Court, aligning bail decisions with the court in which these matters are ultimately sentenced.
- Introduce a strict one-strike bail rule for these uplifted serious offences, meaning offenders on bail who re-offend will be automatically denied bail.
- Strengthen the offence of breach of bail by upgrading it to a more serious classification (from a summary offence to a Schedule 2 offence).
- Extend breach of bail laws to youth offenders by removing the existing youth exemption, so that youth offenders who breach bail conditions are also subject to the same penalties.
