'Knife' laws affect young people

14/12/2009 2:55:34 PM, by
The Summary Offences and Control of Weapons Acts Amendment 2009 is making its way through Parliament at the moment. On the back of public fear about an increase in knife-carrying, the Victorian State Government is trying to give police the power to move people on if they think they might get disorderly, and also the power to search at random. These powers also apply to children and people with disabilities. Those of you who know that Victoria has a human rights charter against which all legislation must be judged might be a little puzzled, but the Government isn't. Even though they admit these laws breach the charter, they're going to go ahead anyway.

Young people are much more likely to be affected by these laws. Similar laws in NSW were enacted, and a review stated that almost half (48%) of the people issues with directions to ‘move on’ were under the age of 17.

If you would like to know more, see this helpful document from YACVIC. Chris Berg also writes in The Age.