Strengthened bail laws give police power to hold offenders for longer

POLICE will be able to remand alleged offenders for longer under changes to strengthen the state’s bail laws, but indigenous persons and vulnerable adults will be exempted. Have your say.

POLICE will be able to remand alleged offenders for longer under changes to strengthen the state’s bail laws.

But children, indigenous persons and vulnerable adults will be exempted under the legislation introduced to state parliament today.

In a Victorian first, senior police officers will be given the power to remand an accused person in custody for up to 48 hours until a court is available to hear their application for bail.

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Alleged offenders who are refused bail will be made to front court at the earliest opportunity and will not be allowed to apply for bail within the 48 hour period.

The reforms also seek to clarify tests for granting bail.

Alleged offenders will be required to prove they should not be remanded under a reverse onus test.

The legislation follows recommendations made in Justice Paul Coghlan’s bail system review following the tragic Bourke Street massacre.

Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the reform will improve community safety by making it harder for alleged offenders to get bail.

“Strengthening the bail tests will ensure that risk to community safety is given a higher priority when deciding whether to grant bail,” he said.

Police minister Lisa Neville said: “This has been a long-awaited reform between The Police Association and Victoria Police and it will give police the powers they need to remand serious offenders in custody until a court can hear a bail application.”

The role of bail justices will be significantly reduced under the bail reforms.

Mr Pakula said bail justices will now deal with a “narrower cohort” of alleged offenders.

Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt welcomed the legislation.

“The Police Association has long said that our members are best placed to judge the imminent risk an alleged offender poses to the community,” he said.

“This legislation allows police to step in and protect the community if they feel that the risk posed is too high.”