Premier admits Victoria’s bail laws ‘not working’ as crime surges

Jacinta Allan has conceded the state’s bail laws are failing, as “absolutely sickening” crime soars, but refused to say if a snap review of the laws would be brought forward despite pleas from terrified Victorians.

Jacinta Allan has conceded that her current bail laws are failing Victorians amid a worsening crime wave.

It comes after a terrified mum pleaded with the Premier to “just do something” after machete-wielding thugs broke into her Bayside home and stole luxury cars and a piggy bank while her children slept.

Meanwhile, a Brighton crime-fighting collective has come together to fund a full-time private security patrol amid escalating Bayside crime.

Under the plan, private security would patrol streets between 7pm and 6am seven nights a week.

CCTV shows a man clutching a machete during a home invasion in Black Rock. Picture: Supplied

Speaking outside parliament on Wednesday, the Premier said the violence plaguing the state was “completely unacceptable”.

“It’s why the laws need to be changed and they will,” she said.

“I understand that the current laws, the current settings, are not working.

“It’s completely unacceptable to see these repeat patterns of criminal behaviour. It’s also unacceptable to me that too many Victorians don’t feel safe in their homes. Working people are having their property invaded … this is absolutely unacceptable behaviour.”

Terrified Brighton residents plan to self-fund a $300,000-a-year security presence.

On Monday, the Bendigo Marketplace, located in the Premier’s hometown, was put into lockdown after a security guard was allegedly bashed by a gang of youths.

Ms Allan, who was at that shopping centre with her two children just 48 hours earlier, said the incident was “absolutely sickening”.

The Premier says the scenes from Bendigo Marketplace are ‘sickening’. Picture: Facebook

Ms Allan says she’s ‘incredibly distressed’ by the images that emerged from her hometown. Picture: Facebook

“I’m incredibly distressed and sickened by the images of what occurred at the Bendigo Marketplace,” she said.

“It should be a place where families like mine can go safely, where shoppers can go about their business, where community can get together and have a cup of tea.”

Last month, Ms Allan ordered Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny and Police Minister Anthony Carbines to undertake a snap review of the state’s bail laws and recommend legislative change.

Ms Allan said she anticipated that work would be done within three months, but on Wednesday refused to say whether it would be brought forward given the scale of the crime crisis.

“This is urgent work. It’s happening right now,” she said.

“I understand the need and the urgency … As soon as that work is completed, we will provide information to the Victorian community about how these laws will changes.”

Asked whether mandatory jail sentences for people who commit home invasions was being considered, Ms Allan said: “I’m not ruling anything in or out.”

Ms Allan was also asked whether she would be prepared to admit that her government got it wrong on bail changes last year.

“It is clear that there were changes that had been made that we need to address,” she responded.

Retired Victorian Police Detective, Charlie Bezzina, has lashed out at Jacinta Allan and the state government for their lack of action.

The 38-year police veteran said he couldn’t imagine “how terrifying it would be” to have someone prowling around your house with a machete in their hand.

It was just a matter of time before someone was killed, Mr Bezzina said, whether that be resident or intruder.

“The situation is simply that an occupant of a house is going to be significantly injured or killed or vice versa,” he said.

“There have been cases already when an adult offender has broken into a house and been killed by the occupant. Followed by the heartbreak they have gone through by killing someone in a fight.

“There is a chance an occupant will kill a child of 14 or 15.”

Jacinta Allan says she’s ‘not ruling anything in or out’. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Bezzina said the state government had its hands in all facets of the system despite what they claimed and they cared more about their reputation than the community.

“Look, they will deny it,” he said. “But there is political influence and direction on the judicial system and there is political interference and direction on the police force, too.

“They’ll deny it, but there’s no two ways about it. I’m convinced that they have a major say.

“They tell judges through the attorney general, about not locking people up, because at the end of the day, if they’re not locked up, they save money.”

He also took aim at bail reform and said mandatory sentencing needed to come in state wide but he didn’t believe Jacinta Allan or the government would move on it.

“I have said we need mandatory sentencing for years,” he said. “Those that commit multiple offences should just have bail refused.

“But I don’t believe it will happen. There are overriding factors on the government in the form of human rights charters and conventions on imprisoning children.

“But what’s the priority? Is it the community, or are you worried about incarcerating youth.

“There are six half empty youth detention centres in Victoria, because they won’t lock them up.”

Former Victorian detective Charlie Bezzina has lashed the state government. Picture: AAP Image

Shadow police minister David Southwick said the spate of violent incidents should serve as a “wake up call to the Premier” and the entire Victorian Labor Party.

“It’s not just the Premier that has her head in the sand,” he said.

“We have a government that doesn’t understand that we have a crime crisis here in Victoria.”

Mr Southwick said tackling crime should be the “number one priority” in Victoria.

“Crime is unfolding everywhere,” he said.

It comes as the opposition calls on the government to back a proposal in parliament to make machetes a prohibited weapon, meaning there is no reason to sell or carry one.

“It shouldn’t be sold, it shouldn’t be carried, it shouldn’t be available, and it should not be made anywhere here in Victoria,” Mr Southwick said.

The Allan government has refused to ban machetes outright, pointing out that they are used for agricultural and gardening purposes.

An amendment to the Control of Weapons Act 1990 last year clarified the legal status of machetes as a ‘controlled weapon’, which allows for them to be sold to Victorians aged over 18. However, anyone in possession of one must have a lawful excuse.

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