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On 26 November 2024, it was announced by the NSW Government that the NSW Commissioner of Fines Administration, in consultation with the NSW Police Commissioner, will withdraw 23,539 Covid-19 Penalty Notices, with an approximate amount of $5.5 million being refunded to those who had made full or partial repayments. In late 2022, the Commissioner of […]

THE OFFENCE OF COERCIVE CONTROL IN NSW On the 1st of July 2024, the NSW Government’s categorisation of the offence of coercive control as a standalone criminal offence came into effect, having been previously passed into legislation through the passage of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022 (NSW). This made NSW the first

NSW REFORM OF CHOKING, SUFFOCATION AND STRANGULATION OFFENCES Federal, State and Territory governments in Australia have long associated Choking, Suffocation and Strangulation Offences as being associated with domestic violence. The NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team’s research showed a link between strangulation and domestic homicide. Established in 2010 under the Coroners Act 2009 (NSW), the

A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENCES IN NSW The number of sexual assault offences in NSW is on the rise, according to statistics from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, which revealed an extraordinary increase of 42% in sexual assault reports in the 12 months prior to March 2024,

DRUG SUPPLY OFFENCES IN NSW The annual Christmas and New Year festive season which is fast approaching often sees a large number of drug supply offences in Sydney, due to the demand for illicit substances that arises from the festive season and a strong police presence during this period. Nevertheless, investigations and patrols of drug

NEGLIGENT, FURIOUS, RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS DRIVING PEAK SEASON FOR DRIVING OFFENCES The approaching festive holiday season unfortunately sees an annual spike in injuries and deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents. As a result, the NSW Police are generally out in greater force monitoring motorist behaviour during that period of the year. HAVE YOU OR YOUR

One of the common situations our clients seek our legal expertise for are instances where a family member or partner has made an allegation of a form of domestic violence against them. It is often the case that clients present themselves to us having been charged with common assault and had an apprehended violence order

THE STRATEGY OF THE NSW POLICE FORCE Police searches without a warrant are considered a deliberate strategy of the NSW Police Force’s “proactive policing,” with the intention of reducing crime. However, revelations of a culture within the NSW Police that encourages Police to boost search numbers as part of a statistics-driven strategy has raised fears

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NSW WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? The Crimes (Personal and Domestic Violence) Act 2007 defines domestic violence as ‘an offence committed by a person against another person with whom the person who commits the offence has (or has had) a domestic relationship’. The legislation defines a domestic relationship to be where a person: Is

ERODING OF THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE – PEOPLE PAYING THE PRICE FOR A FLAWED SYSTEM The eroding of the presumption of innocence in sexual assault cases is a great flaw in our criminal justice system and society. It is to the detriment of not just those who have been falsely accused of sexual assault, but