Police union slams bail laws after teen released following alleged taxi driver assault

The NT government’s youth justice policies are under fire after a teen on bail was arrested over the alleged assault of a taxi driver – and granted bail. Read the details here.

The NT Police Association (NTPA) says the Territory’s bail system is “clearly broken” after a 13-year- old arrested and charged over a serious breach of bail was granted released.

NTPA president Paul McCue said the NT government’s 2020 scrapping of breach of bail laws for youth offenders had delivered unwanted consequences for police.

The juvenile offence of breach of bail was changed by the NT government in line with recommendations by the Royal Commission into the protection and detention of children in the Territory.

His comments come after police arrested a 13-year-old at Palmerston Shopping Centre on Friday after he allegedly assaulted and tried to rob a taxidriver with a small hammer.

The youth was charged with one count of assault with intent to steal and one count of serious breach of bail.

President Paul McCue at the Northern Territory Police Association 2022 annual conference.

The NT News understands the youth appeared in court and was released on bail.

“As we’ve consistently said, the decision to scrap breach of bail for youth offenders has created a revolving door for police officers who are forced to arrest the same youths day in day out,” Mr McCue said.

“The feedback I regularly get from our members is that some youths are being given too many opportunities and there is a widespread view among some young people that they are ‘untouchable’. In fact, we’ve heard anecdotally that youth offenders have blatantly told this to victims when confronted.

“The government’s expansion of the prescribed offences list, as it relates to youth offenders, was welcomed by the NTPA but when you have a 13-year-old charged with (allegedly) threatening a taxi driver with a hammer – while on bail – who goes on to be bailed again, something in the system is clearly broken.

“We were also strong and vocal supporters of the CLP Opposition’s proposed laws that repeat offenders, including youths who breach their bail, be remanded and not be able to go on and re-offend while on bail. It might be time those proposed changes were revisited.”

Mr McCue has previously said police must follow a raft of steps before a youth can be arrested for breach of bail, including returning them to a responsible carer, issuing a warning or summons or referring the matter to youth diversion.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said too much focus was on offenders and not their victims.

“The Fyles Labor Government is failing Territorians by putting the rights of offenders above the victims,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro delivers her 2022/23 budget. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“This is another example of the urgent need for bail reform. The fact that we continue to let criminals out in the community instead of protecting people from them is a disgrace. The high number of victims we see is reflected in the extremely high crime statistics.

“The CLP has a plan to stop repeat offending and wants to stop the revolving door of bail. But this government is too busy focusing on the rights of the criminals instead of the rights of Territorians to be safe.

“The CLP’s Sentenced to a Skill policy will provide youth criminals the opportunity to divert the course of their life while all we have from Labor are broken promises.”

The NT government has been contacted for comment.