South Australia has introduced new legal measures this week aimed at keeping the activities of street gangs in check and addressing repeat offences by young individuals.
The legislation allows for heightened powers for both the police and the courts in managing street-related crimes and young offenders. Under the new regulations, police have the capability to seek court designation for groups as ‘declared street gangs’, which enables them to request control orders against members of these gangs. It also targets individuals attempting to recruit members into street gangs, introducing heavier penalties, especially when adults recruit minors.
The legal framework now includes anti-association statutes comparable to those applied to organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs. In the courtrooms, there is now an enforced priority on community safety in sentencing decisions concerning young offenders who persistently engage in serious criminal activities. These young offenders, particularly those with repeated serious charges, will find it more challenging to obtain bail.
Kyam Maher MLC, Deputy Premier, Attorney-General shared, “South Australia is one of the safest places in the nation, with the lowest youth offender rate of any state. However, we know there is more work to do.
“We know that a small number of young offenders are responsible for a disproportionate level of offending, and we’re targeting that cohort with new measures that are coming online. Community safety will always be at the heart of our law and order policies, and these measures are all designed to better protect the community.
“Giving the courts the power to better manage youth recidivism and giving South Australia Police greater powers to tackle street gangs are significant steps forward in the fight against crime. These changes recognise the very real threat posed by street gangs, and give South Australia Police far greater powers to step up their fight against these criminals.”
