VICTIMS OF CRIME TO BE PUNISHED UNDER NEW LAW
27 August, 2009
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VICTIMS OF CRIME TO BE PUNISHED UNDER NEW LAW
Local Councillors Shayne Sutton, John Campbell and Helen Abrahams have joined together to voice their concerns about a new proposed Council law, which would punish victims of crime.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman recently introduced the draft 'Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law’ for future enactment by the Council. Within the legislation, the Lord Mayor wants to fine people whose property has been vandalised by graffiti if they don’t remove it within 14 days.
Councillor Sutton she was concerned that ‘victims of crime’ would be punished through the provision in the new law.
“While I agree that vandals should be made to face the full force of the courts; I do not believe the victims of these crimes should also be treated as criminals,” she said.
Councillors Campbell and Abrahams agree.
Councillor Campbell said it wouldn’t be fair for someone to cop a $400 to $5,000 fine because graffiti vandals damaged their building, and they couldn’t clean it up within the Council’s 14 day time limit.
“There are many elderly residents in our community who simply don’t have the resources to clean graffiti off their home or fence within the two week deadline,” he said.
Councillor Abrahams called for the Lord Mayor to “scrap his unfair proposal to fine property owners who are victims of graffiti crime”.
“What Council should be doing instead, is increasing cranking up' its graffiti removal programs in public places and helping property owners to do the same through promoting the Council’s graffiti clean-up kit campaign.”
The draft Local Law will soon be formally released by the Council for community feedback.
All three Councillors encouraged local residents to contact their offices to report graffiti or discuss their concerns about the proposed local law.
The Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law was approved by all Councillors at the meeting on 25th June to go out for public consultation and 'State' interest checks.
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