YOUNG offenders committing serious crimes like murder, rape or arson could be named and shamed under a new NSW government plan. NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos has ordered a radical overhaul of laws preventing the naming of offenders under 18 years of age, News Ltd newspapers reported today. The move for publishing young offenders' names follows public anger that two 11-year-olds were only cautioned after admitting they caused a bushfire in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Mr Hatzistergos told the paper a series of previous serious crimes committed by young people led him to believe it was time to look at the reasons why young people could not be named, even when they appeared in an adult court. He cited the gang rape trial of six Pakistani brothers, four of whom had their identity suppressed because one of them was under 18 at the time of the crime. “There have been some recent cases which have highlighted areas which need farther examination,” Mr Hatzistergos said. “This is a particularly sensitive area of the law which must balance the interests of open justice with the need to protect young people, including those who are victims,” he said. Mr Hatzistergos will give victims groups input into the idea that will be examined by a bipartisan committee. I would love to see this come in Australia wide where with any serious crime the criminals should be known. It should not matter if they are under 18 or not, if someone is of an age where they can commit rape or murder then they are old enough to face the consequences of what comes with it. I don't understand why these people should be allowed to commit such horrid crimes only to be unknown to the general public. Its much like the protection for paedophiles, they suppress these peoples names to protect them from harm, these people should have their images advertised across TV in the hope that just maybe someone's gun will accidentally misfire in their general direction, or perhaps their cars accelerator pedal will stick on and be forced to run them down. People like this do not deserve to have any help from society. What does everyone else think?
I'm with you. why should these people have their civil liberties protected, when they violated another person's? I do see reason to hide such a detail, but ultimately they decided they didn't care when they pulled down their pants/drew blood whatever they did
I totally agree, they are no different to those older ones who did the same crimes. Its simple as that. This should be Australia wide not just in N.S.W.
Sorry, i just want to add this. I think EVERYONE should be unnamed until hey are proven guilty, it is then criminals should be made known. One thing i think is very unfair is when people are persecuted for appearing to do a crime, then being found innocent.
true all that. Add to that a crim register. somewhere we can do a search and bring up a mug shot to see who the rapist next door is.....
i agree with you all, but if we are going to be perfectly honest we all know it will never happen. johnny
I am definitely in agreeance. Why "protect" known criminals. They forfeited their rights to protection when they broke the law
I reckon go one step further & bring back the stocks. It is bad enough that these people get a slap on the wrist for what they have done. Also the shame for the parents might make them be more responsible for where their children are.
I agree with this also BUT only for severe crimes such as Rape, Pedophilia, Murder/aggravated assault etc. The lesser crimes (theft shoplifting etc) people may/may not have made a mistake and may actually change there lifes after being punished for their crimes, theres a few examples of people on here that have commited small crimes and changed and are actively good members of the community. To add to this I found out one of my employee's has been convicted of shoplifting. They hadn't told me at interview time as I probably wouldn't have employed them. They handle money as they operate a till and there has never been an issue at all as they are actually hard working and dedicated. Worst for them is they didn't actually shoplift but rather with a friend that did so they were also charged~ had they been publicly named I would've missed the opportunity to have such a gr8 part of my work team.
No, it should stand for all crimes. We are in a downward spiral as it is and something has to change. Bring back the angry cop that used to give you a touch up when he caught you doing something bad. Let the public know who the little sh1t is that keeps breaking into there homes & vandalising there property.
13 or 33, if you're old enough to commit serious crime then yes, you should be named for sure. It sure is funny how some of the victims names and identities are made public in some cases whereas the offender stays behind the cloak, ****es me off..
EXACTLY, the victims shouldn't have to suffer but I think they get a choice whether to go public with the names, Not sure on that one.
They do, the victims can choose to have their name suppressed. This is What i understand to be the case in Vic anyway.
