Knife crime crackdown

By Jo Kennett

THE NSW Government introduced legislation to Parliament on Tuesday, June 20, which will double the maximum penalty available for certain knife crimes, following an increase in stabbings and knife crimes, including the murder of a paramedic in Sydney.

The bill will amend the Crimes Act to transfer the offences of having custody of a knife in a public place or school, and wielding a knife in a public place or a school, to the Crimes Act instead of the Summary Offences Act.

The maximum term of imprisonment for these offences will increase from two to four years and the maximum fine for possession of a knife will increase from $2,200 to $4,400, and for wielding a knife to $11,000.

The Minns government says a tougher maximum penalty will send a strong message about the seriousness of knife-related crime.

Key criminal justice diversion mechanisms for young people or first-time minor offenders will be retained under the proposed reforms. They will be tried summarily (by a magistrate not a jury) unless the prosecution or defendant elects otherwise.

A penalty infringement notice can still be issued to an adult for a first offence for knife possession, which means the person would not need to attend court.

The Young Offenders Act 1997 will continue to apply when the offences are moved to the Crimes Act, meaning children and young persons will still be eligible to receive a caution or referral to youth justice conferencing where appropriate.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said the tougher maximum penalty will send a strong message about the gravity of knife-related crime.

“The government is acting to address understandable community concern given the high-profile tragic events involving knives that we have seen in NSW over the last couple of years,” he said.

“We want to ensure that people in the community are safe and feel safe.

“We believe we have struck the right balance with these reforms, sending an important message to people engaging in criminal behaviour of this kind but also not being overly punitive in its application.”