Don't blame the police

Damned if they Do & Damned if they don't

A lot of residents are asking why don't the Magistrates and Judges hand down longer sentences and the answer to that question is:
The jail are full and over overcrowded.
The Government are not building any more jails at this time
The Magistrates and Judges would like to hand down better sentencing but until the government realises that the present system is failing the judiciary and more importantly the community.
No one could expect the Magistrates and Judges to continually lock every person up when there is no room, the Government HAVE TO start looking at building new jails to overcome the crowding and more importantly not allowing serious offenders to get suspended sentences.
The building of jails these days is quicker and more efficient than in the past, jails in the USA are all prefab buildings and built section by section.
But is building more jails the right way to go maybe the Australian Governments should look at the system in Norway.

Until the Government looks the judicial system we need to understand that the Magistrates and Judges have to make that decision of sending these offenders to overcrowded jails or to release them on probation or giving them suspended sentences.

Being stopped - - For your information

Police can stop you and ask you questions at any time. However, you don’t necessarily have to answer all their questions.
Police may use whatever you say to decide whether to arrest or charge you. They can use what you say against you in court. You don’t need to be at a police station to be interviewed and there’s no such thing as 'off the record'.
This page contains information about what to do when you are stopped by police.

Police rights

Police have the right to ask for your name and address in many situations, including when they:

• find you committing an offence
• ‘reasonably suspect’ that you have committed an offence
• think you can help them investigate an indictable offence or domestic violence act
• give you an order to stop making noise or being a nuisance
• stop you while you are in control of a vehicle
• trying to enforce another specific law
• where it is reasonable in the circumstances.

Although police can ask you to give your name and address, they must warn you that it’s an offence to refuse to do so.
If you refuse to give your name and address when police have a right to ask for it, and you have no reasonable excuse for refusing, you’ll be committing an offence and could be charged.
Giving a false name or someone else’s name could result in more serious charges.

Your rights

You’re allowed to ask the police why they want this information. The officers must give you their names, rank and station. If not in uniform, they must show you their identity cards or some other proof of identity.
However, if police suspect that you’ve committed an offence and need to arrest you to establish your identity, they can do so without a warrant. Therefore, if police ask for your details, you should:

• check their identity and ask why they want your details (making a note of what they say)
• state your name and address, as well as age if you’re under 17
• try to record the names of any witnesses to the event
• politely say that you’re unwilling to answer other questions.

Being stopped while driving

Police can ask to see your licence if they pull your car over for a legal reason, such as for a random breath alcohol or drug test, or to enforce transport or drug laws.
If police stop you while driving, they may conduct a roadside alcohol breath test (i.e. random breath test) or drug saliva test, and have you go to a police station for a blood test.
Apart from giving your name and address, and showing your licence, you can refuse to answer other questions.

Being searched

Police do not have an automatic right to search you and your personal property. They can search you or your belongings only if:

• you agree to the search
• they have a search warrant
• a law specifically allows them to conduct the search. Such powers are limited and apply only in certain circumstances.

Read more about being stopped for a search of you and your belongings.
 https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/being-arrested-and-police-custody/being-searched/

Being questioned

Any conversations you have with police can be used against you. Until you’ve obtained proper legal advice, you should tell the police only what the law requires you to tell them.
REad more:  https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/being-arrested-and-police-custody/being-questioned/https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/being-arrested-and-police-custody/being-questioned/

Further information

A guide to your rights when dealin with police
https://caxton.org.au/pdfs/Police%20Powers%20kit%20Oct%202016.pdfhttps://caxton.org.au/pdfs/Police%20Powers%20kit%20Oct%202016.pdf

Cairns is a safe city....REALLY (Old post January 26, 2016)

Following the public hearing in Cairns recently on the Lock-out laws I cannot believe the statement made one of the "Street Chaplains" Esther Knight when she stated in the Cairns Post on January 22, 2016 that "Cairns is a very safe city". "there are lots and lots of cameras - safety is not a problem with us" REALLY Esther, where have you been hiding.

Cairns has always had crime problems and really nothing has changed except it appears to be getting worse.
At one stage the CBD had quiet periods but then the crime problem spread to the suburbs and has become a headache for the residents and police.
What about the tourists who have been assaulted, beaten and robbed most of that has been in the CBD.
Cairns being a major tourist Regional City needs to come to grips that crime is rampant and our so-called leaders need to step up and take action on how to kerb the rise in crime.
The council has put in place cameras in the CBD but that won't stop the crime it only aids in getting police or security to the area and by the time they arrive it's all over red rover.
Somebody lays injured, in some cases serious injury.
Then in the same paper we have common sense statements by two high ranking officers Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Newton and Acting Inspector Gary Hunter.
Chief Superintendent stated that "violence is higher in Cairns than in other parts of the State - sometime twice as bad".
Residents all ready know how bad crime is in Cairns and the comment from the Acting Chief Superintendent goes to support what has been said all along.
The other problem that creates violence is drugs and again it has already been stated in the past years that Cairns has a high drug problems.
Again this has been supported by Acting Inspector Gary Hunter who stated that "the big challenge for us is the increased use of dangerous drugs".
The police are doing their best to overcome the drug problem and supply but everytime they close down one lab another one or two spring up so it's a no win situation for the police.
The Jack General Manager John Lynch suggested that "the government and magistrates to get heavy with the people who do the wrong thing".
Well John that has been suggested many times but the Government of the day or opposition appear to be too frightened to stand up to the judiciary and that's where the problem lies.
Governments need to pass laws that give a "minimum and maximum" sentence and not allow magistrates and judges to impose a 12 month sentence then release the offenders on probation, that achieves nothing and defeats the purpose of charging offenders because they know that they will get a mere slap on the wrist.
Will the "lockout laws" be a winner we will just have to wait and see but there is one thing for sure the tourists whereever they come from need to feel safe here or Cairns can say goodbye to it's tourist industry.

Take the worry out of what your kids are doing online

Want to block unwanted Apps or Sites the go here and download https://ourpact.com you can even deactivate their mobiles if necessary.

Again, another family possession destroyed by out of control creeps

In the early hours of Saturday a family Nissan Navajo was stolen from an address at Trinity Park and completely destroyed.
The owner of the vehicle is still getting over the sudden death of her husband and to have this taken from which was bought by her late husband is devastating for the whole family.

As the two daughters have said: “Of all things it had to be Dad's car”


The criminals entered the house took the cars and cigarettes and started their destructive journey ending with setting fire and completely destroying the vehicle.
If this present government start reigning in these creeps and placing them in jail and making the parents responsible by selling of their possessions to pay compensation to the victims there will be eventually vigilante groups surfacing to deal with these grubs.
Peoples lives have been ruined & destroyed in many ways by these grubs get off Scot free and go back out into the community and do the same thing again.
Governments are showing an appalling  attitude towards their constituents and the people will take only so much before taking matters into their own hands.


On the left is the original vehicle and on the right is what's left of it following the setting it alight
A loving mother's pride and joy GONE

I ask one question: will the government recognise that there is a problem and do something positive for the residents of Queensland instead of saying " we have procedures in place" which is total crap.
I am still waiting to see a politician on either side who will stand up and say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE".

Crime will never be stopped while you have this type of sentence being applied.

Unbalanced Justice

A teenager who admitted raping his own niece has been released without conviction by a Queensland judge.

 How can people  whether male or female be protected when flimsy sentences like this are handed down.

By doing 80 hours of community work as directed by the judge will that change his attitude? that is a completely laughable statement coming from a person in such a high position.

The girl was just seven-years-old when her then-16-year-old uncle abused her on three separate occasions.

The now-17-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 and one count of digital rape.

His lawyer claims he doesn’t remember his actions.

Warwick District Court Judge Leanne Clare lashed the excuse.

But, in a shocking twist, Judge Clare sentenced the offender to just two and a half years’ probation and ordered him to complete 80 hours of community service saying, “Every time you do it I want you to remember this is punishment for what you did to this little girl.”

In a further disgrace, the 17-year-old had no conviction recorded for his sickening crimes.

Ray Hadley has called the judgement an outrage.

“He’s a paedophile, a child rapist and no conviction was recorded and because he’s under 18 he can’t be named.

“If there’s not an appeal by the Queensland DPP they stand condemned, as the District Court judge stands condemned.”

Queensland Government stuffs up again

Another Queensland Government stuff up these 17 year olds know exactly what they are doing and this change will not change their way of thinking. These ministers should get a life and start thinking about the victims of which they don’t give stuff.
In 2007 when I founded residentsagainstcrimes.blogspot.com I met with the then police minister Judy Spence and her attitude was no different to what we halve today and following numerous community crime meetings which were well attended one wonders what could be done to wake up this government and it’s minister to realise that pussy footing around IS NOT achieving anything except making people’s lives a misery.

We need a logical thinking Commissioner

We hear a lot about the Queensland Police not being allowed high pursuit of stolen vehicles etc which are  called off by someone sitting inside 4 walls not knowing the full extent of the surroundings where the pursuit are taking place.
 The officers engaged in the pursuit are highly trained in fast pursuits and have the driving skills to know when they should back off but no this doesn't happen as they are instructed by someone sitting in a room to call off the pursuit so the criminals again get away.
But in Western Australia the scenario is different where the Police Commissioner supports his staff in high pursuits.
Read on:
WA Police 'won’t yield to anarchy' amid calls for extra funding for high-speed chases
Western Australia’s Police Commissioner has said officers will continue to engage in high speed pursuits to chase suspects, adding the force can't "yield to anarchy."Police Commissioner Chris Dawson today confirmed he’s investigating with treasury, to see the money can be made available.

WA Police Commissioner

Currently, WA Police have two choppers, one of which is 30 years old.
"One thing that this coroner's inquest finding clearly proves is that police air support is quite vital in insuring we get the best possible outcome in police pursuits," Commissioner Dawson said.
So when will the Queensland Government along with the police hierarchy of law start thinking positive and allow the officer/s in the pursuing vehicle to make that decision? probably never, that is until a outward thinking government is elected.
http://a.msn.com/01/en-au/BBIe8HC?ocid=se

Calling Police when a crime is in progress

Here is the recording verifying the procedure for calling Police - recorded Monday January 9, 2018.

When do you call the police?

Hope this is helpful.