ORGANISED CRIME LAWS IN NSW: THE LAW
The NSW Government has reformed the law in response to growing concerns about organised crime in NSW. Criminal Lawyers Group have been nationally recognised as the top criminal law firm in NSW for securing the best outcomes for clients who have been accused of involvement in organised crime.
This article will explore the law on organised crime and the NSW Government’s recent changes.
If you or anyone you know have been accused of involvement in organised crime or charged with a criminal offence, contact our award-winning team of expert criminal lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group immediately for a free consultation.
WHAT IS THE LAW ON ORGANISED CRIME?
The NSW Government reformed the law on organised crime, with its passage of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Act 2026 (NSW). This legislation amended various laws to implement particular recommendations in the Statutory Review of 2022 Organised Crime Reforms – Statutory Review Report and other reforms to improve the police and criminal justice system’s response to organised crime.
WHAT ARE THE KEY CHANGES?
Hiring of children for crime
One of the key changes to the law on organised crime arising from the passage of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Act 2026 (NSW) is an increase to the maximum penalty available to the Court for an adult convicted of recruiting a child to carry out or assist in carrying out a criminal activity. The law amended 351A(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) to increase the penalty for this offence from 10 years imprisonment to 12 years imprisonment.
Furthermore, the changes provide for a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment for an adult convicted of recruiting a child to carry out or assist in carrying out a criminal activity in circumstances of aggravation.
The changes also provided that for the purpose of the above two offences, it is not necessary to prove that the accused knew the age of the child recruited to carry out or assist in carrying out the criminal activity.
The use of ‘kill cars’
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-related Crime Reforms) Act 2026 (NSW) amended the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) to deal with what is commonly referred to as ‘kill cars’, which are vehicles that get burnt after their use in crime. The changes provide for a maximum term of imprisonment of 12 years for a person convicted of intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging property belonging to another or to that person and another by means of fire or explosives if the vehicle was destroyed or damaged after being used by the accused person or another person in connection with an aggravated circumstances offence.
WHAT OTHER PENALTIES ARE THERE FOR ORGANISED CRIME OFFENCES
Other penalties available for a conviction of organised crime offences, other than imprisonment, include a Suspended Sentence, Intensive Corrections Order (ICO), Community Corrections Order (CCO) and a Good Behaviour Bond.
CAN I GET BAIL FOR AN ORGANISED CRIME OFFENCE?
Yes, you may be granted bail on a charge of an organised crime offence. Our expert criminal lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group were awarded the best law firm in NSW for securing bail for our clients who have been charged with serious criminal offences, including organised crime offences.
CRIMINAL LAWYERS GROUP SECURE ANOTHER NOT GUILTY VERDICT
Mr Steven Mercael, Principal and award-winning criminal lawyer at Criminal Lawyers Group, secured another Not Guilty verdict for a person who had been charged with recruiting a child to carry out a criminal activity.
“My client looks forward to moving on with his life as an innocent man,” stated Mr Mercael outside Court after the verdict was announced.
This result is among the latest of a continuous record of Not Guilty verdicts achieved by Criminal Lawyers Group, who were recently awarded the title of Best Criminal Lawyers in Sydney.
CONTACT CRIMINAL LAWYERS GROUP NOW
If you or anyone you know have been accused of organised crime or charged with a criminal offence, contact our specialised criminal lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group immediately for a free consultation so that we may secure the best outcome for you.
Our award-winning team of criminal law experts are nationally recognised for securing not guilty verdicts, bail and the withdrawal of charges for our clients across NSW who have been accused of organised crime and charged with criminal offences.