Property crime victims in NT to receive $250 compensation under CLP plan to make crims pay more

Young offenders would be fined $100 and adult criminals up to $400 under a Country Liberal Party plan to give victims of property crimes like break-ins access to compensation.

YOUNG offenders would be fined $100 and adult criminals up to $400 under a Country Liberal Party plan to give victims of property crimes like break-ins access to compensation.

But Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro was at pains to explain how a government run by her could afford to hand out $250 to victims of property crime considering most break-ins go unsolved and of those that are, only a small portion of offenders go to court.

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Australian Bureau of Statistics data released in July showed a three quarters of break-ins in the NT were not solved last year within 30 days.

Of the 1327 cases solved within 30 days, offenders were pursued in 851 instances.

The CLP plans to double the offender levy, which currently stands at $50 for kids and up to $200 for convicted adults.

If offenders can’t pay, the CLP’s plan is to make them do mandatory community service.

Ms Finocchiaro was adamant doubling the levy would cover the cost of allowing more crime victims to access the assistance fund.

She said “all victims of property crime to their homes” would be able to apply for up to $250 in compensation.

Using 2019 statistics, the total cost of compensating one person from each of the 1327 break-ins solved by police would be $331,750.

This spikes to $832,750 assuming one person from each of the 3331 break-ins investigated by police applied for $250 in compensation.

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Assuming one adult offender was pursued through the courts in each of the 851 cases last year, and then made to pay the maximum of $400 each, the government would recover 340,400.

Ms Finocchiaro dismissed questions about how the policy would impact the bottom line as “speculation” on how it would or would not operate.

“What we are saying is that there needs to be strong deterrent against people who go and damage, other people’s property,” she said.

“We want to ensure that victims are put first, and that offenders are dealt with appropriately.”