‘Those recent amendment that came through this year aren’t helping police in any way’: NTPA president

THE PRESIDENT of the NT Police Association says the changes of breach of bail as an offence for youth is creating major problems for cops

NTPA president Paul McCue says the changes of breach of bail as an offence for youth was creating a revolving door for cops who were forced to arrest the same youths day in day out

POLICE Association president Paul McCue says the changes to breach of bail as a youth offence is creating a revolving door for police officers who were forced to arrest the same youths day in day out.

Breach of bail as an offence was changed this year under recommendations by the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.

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“Those recent amendment that came through this year aren’t helping police in any way and it needs to be reviewed,” Mr McCue said.

He said cops had to follow a whole raft of steps before a youth was arrested for breach of bail, which included retuning them to a responsible carer, issuing a warning or summons, or referring the matter to youth diversion.

He said the process was often time consuming.

NTPA President Paul McCue says the changes of breach of bail as an offence for youth is creating problems for police. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

“What we’re saying is are the amendments working, right now its almost like a revolving door of putting youths before the courts,” he said.

“Unless it’s extremely serious the presumption is for bail.”

In budget estimates yesterday Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said police actively monitored bail conditions for youths and if there was a breach action would be taken as necessary.

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“There’s still the power to arrest, the only change in that context for the Youth Justice Act, early this year, was that it’s no longer a separate individual offence,” he said.

“What occurs is the breach of bail goes back to the originating offence on the prosecution file.”

He said if there were several breaches of bail the judge and prosecutor would have those details in a person’s file.