News and Events

The NSW Ombudsman released a report in August 2014, on the effect of expanded police powers introduced in 2011 to assist police responses to alcohol-fuelled violence, predominantly intended for behaviour in entertainment districts at night.

In inner-city Sydney, a man in his 50s answers an unexpected knock at the front door. It’s the police, carrying a DNA sample kit and some paperwork. A document explains to the man that he has been classified as an untested former offender, empowering the police to collect his DNA.

RLC has experienced a recent spike in people contacting us for advice about DNA collection by NSW Police.

New legislation is being introduced to change the powers of police in variety of ways.

The New South Wales Government has passed further law and order legislation, with highly publicised mandatory sentencing legislation expected to follow now that parliament has resumed.

Two months before Barry O’Farrell announced the ‘one punch’ laws, he passed a different law that expands police powers to arrest without warrant.

The NSW Government has passed the Law Enforcement (Power and Responsibility) Amendment (Arrest without Warrant) Bill 2013, legislation that will allow police to apply a lower standard when deciding whether or not to make arrests.

Our Police Powers solicitor David Porter talks to Hack on triple j about the new laws in Queensland for the G20 which will restrict movement and behaviours including kite flying.

Article by Anna Patty for The Sydney Morning Herald

Plans to expand NSW police powers would encourage officers to arrest people for spurious reasons and to hold them in custody even if they face only financial penalties, legal experts have warned.