Melbourne Bourke Street in lockdown

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Originally Posted by Gordie

If the laws are similar to SA...here an offender has the RIGHT to bail...it has to be proven why they shouldn't get bail. So any police-charge-sgt, or magistrate is going to have in the back of their mind...what happens if I deny bail...and there is a death in custody...I will be held to account by the coroner..etc...the laws don't back up our police or magistrates, very frustrating. Until these sorts of laws change...offenders will have the rights, and the law abiding public will suffer the consequences.

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I read it was at night and it was actually a bail justice of the peace, not a magistrate, who approved bail. Anyway, I'm sure we'll hear more in time.

So Andrews has cancelled the bail JP system and introduced a night court under a magistrate, which is what other states do, so good on Andrews for acting.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

So Andrews has cancelled the bail JP system and introduced a night court under a magistrate, which is what other states do, so good on Andrews for acting.

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Too little, too late.
Let's see if he is prepared to make real changes.

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Originally Posted by d2dave

It is a waste of time in Vic as our g̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ dictator here does not listen.

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This petition has reached 100,000 signatures with people complaining that it is now closed as the goal was reached and they can't add their names. Not a Polly alive that would not pay attention to so many petitioners and so fast.
Now we need a petition to hold the judiciary responsible for their actions in cases like this, esp. when the bastard was/is a repeat offender and the police opposed bail on those grounds and was a danger to the public, Regards Frank.

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Originally Posted by Tank

This petition has reached 100,000 signatures with people complaining that it is now closed as the goal was reached and they can't add their names. Not a Polly alive that would not pay attention to so many petitioners and so fast.
Now we need a petition to hold the judiciary responsible for their actions in cases like this, esp. when the bastard was/is a repeat offender and the police opposed bail on those grounds and was a danger to the public, Regards Frank.

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Was a bail justice of the peace, not a magistrate, so why are people criticising magistrates when no magistrate was involved?
Andrews has now changed that system.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Was a bail justice of the peace, not a magistrate, so why are people criticising magistrates when no magistrate was involved?
Andrews has now changed that system.

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If you read my post, I'm criticising Pollies that only react to public outcry and the Judiciary, of which I imagine a bail justice is part of, Regards Frank.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Was a bail justice of the peace, not a magistrate, so why are people criticising magistrates when no magistrate was involved?
Andrews has now changed that system.

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You are correct here but magistrates are just as soft when it comes to bail.

I have since heard that the police strenuously opposed bail to the point that they have lodged a complaint to higher up.

The reality is that bail justices are utilised between about 3pm, (most magistrates won't entertain late remand applications after 3pm) and about 4am, (after that time offenders can be held in police custody without remand and directly presented at court next morning.

In the vast majority of cases the bail justice will go with the police application to remand.

And the bit that is under reported is that most offenders subsequently get bailed by magistrates from the court when they appear at the next sitting.

The fact that there is no cell space in the prison system to accommodate the offenders that some magistrates would like to remand does not help at all.

Why do you think police cells, designed as short term accommodation are bursting at the seams.

Night courts with magistrates replacing bail justices will make no difference, unless an offender wanted to plead guilty there and then and have the matter dealt with on the spot. And that is not what is being contemplated and something the judiciary won't allow. Can't be seen to create a police state, and do solicitors out of work.

True. Most cases should be bailed and it is not opposed by police. But there are exceptions.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

True. Most cases should be bailed and it is not opposed by police. But there are exceptions.

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Exceptions are (or should be) repeat offenders, violent offenders who are a danger to the public or themselves and strong opposition for bail by the police, this bloke meets all of the above criteria, Regards Frank.