MPs hail tougher sentences for criminals THE state government is introducing tough new legislation to combat a rising tide of violent carjackings and home invasions, many in the south-eastern suburbs, Mordialloc state MP Tim Richardson said last week. Specific and targeted stand-alone offences have been created for carjacking, aggravated carjacking, home invasions, and aggravated home invasions. “These have been developed in close consultation with Victoria Police and will include tough new penalties and statutory minimum sentences,” Mr Richardson said. “This is about giving police the tools they need to keep the community safe.” There will also be a presumption
against bail for aggravated carjacking, home invasion and aggravated home invasion. This new show-cause provision will apply to offenders regardless of age. A statutory minimum non-parole period of three years will also apply to aggravated carjacking and aggravated home invasion. The Labor MP has called on Police Minister Lisa Neville to visit Kingston to talk to residents and hear police views on crime and punishment. “There is nothing more fundamental in our community than feeling safe and secure,” he said in state parliament. “When confronted with some of the systematic challenges we have been facing recently, which include family violence, the dev-
astating effects of the drug ice, as well as recent examples of theft, home invasions and carjackings across the south-eastern suburbs, we need to take swift action.” Mr Richardson said there had been no cuts to police numbers in the Mordialloc district, adding that it was the role of the Police Commissioner, Graham Ashton, to determine what resources were needed to tackle crime. He said there were no changes to the 24-hour counter services at police stations Cheltenham, Mordialloc and Chelsea. Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny says the state government is introducing legislation to restrict the courts’ use of community correction orders for the
most serious crimes – such as rape and murder. She said the Sentencing (Community Correction Order) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2016 would bring sentencing “more into line with community expectations and ensure those convicted of the most serious criminal offences go to prison”. The legislation aims to prevent the use of community correction orders and other non-custodial orders for 10 serious offences, including murder, rape, kidnapping, extreme sexual and physical violence and serious drugs and terrorism offences. “When police are under pressure to cope with the increasing crime rate, they
do not need the courts to put perpetrators of serious crimes back in the community instead of behind bars,” Ms Kilkenny said. “That’s what the community expects, and that’s what these tough new laws will deliver. “For the most serious crimes, the only appropriate sentence is a prison sentence.” Crime in Kingston has surged 9.3 per cent in crime in the past year according to figures released by the Crimes Statistics Agency Victoria. Liberal state Upper House MP for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region Inga Peulich says “crime is out of control under Labor”. Stephen Taylor
Police patrol
Parking row
A DISPUTE over a disabled parking bay led to a verbal altercation and then a physical assault outside Lakeview shopping centre, Patterson Lakes, Saturday afternoon. A Patterson Lakes woman with a permanent disability told police she had been unable to find a free disabled parking space at the centre, 2.50pm, 15 October, forcing her to drive around longer than expected. The woman, 58, saw a free space and parked, but noticed a car without a disabled sticker in the next bay. She had a verbal altercation with the female passenger whom she alleges threw a drink at her. The driver of the offending car returned and all three continued arguing. The woman said the passenger then grabbed the sunglasses off her face, causing her to stumble backwards, further injuring her knee. The two women, described as African/Suda-
nese, then drove away. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Staff abused
STAFF at a Chelsea liquor store were spat at by a troublesome customer when they refused to serve him, Saturday night, 15 October. They said the man had been in the shop the night before, causing a nuisance of himself and spitting blood. When they refused him service he became aggressive and again spat at them, before leaving the store and heading towards the Woolworths car park. The man is described as 50 years old with bad teeth, and is mostly bald with some grey hair and was wearing track pants and a flannelette shirt. Police said he may be the same offender who stole items from the nearby NQR store. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Gamble does not pay off
A MEAT and poultry delivery driver who told police he had been robbed of $800 was later charged with making a false report. The man, 54, of Dandenong, called 000 to report that he had been robbed by men armed with a gun and a knife near the Gladesville shopping centre, 1.15am, Saturday 15 October. Police attended the scene and took a formal statement, but became suspicious when details of the man’s story did not match. They were then able to access nearby CCTV footage and disprove the man’s claims of robbery. After being confronted by police the man admitted losing the money at Mornington poker venues the night before. He said he feared his wife would leave him if she found out he had lost his wages. Police told him the matter would be reported and that he may receive a summons.
Burglars interrupted
A MAN arriving back at his Chelsea home saw an unfamiliar utility parked in his neighbour’s driveway, and then saw torchlight in an upstairs bedroom on Friday 14 October at about 10pm. The man then realised the torches had been switched off when he parked his car in Newington Parade. He saw a passenger in the ute and noticed the garage door had been propped open, with another man walking from the house back to the ute. This man is described as Caucasian, aged in his 20s with short hair, tattoos down his left arm, is of slim build and was wearing a black singlet and black tracksuit pants. The neighbour followed the ute when it drove off but lost sight of it on Nepean Hwy, Chelsea. Police later found that three bedrooms at the house had been ransacked and jewellery stolen.
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19 October 2016
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