WIMMERA police Superintendent Paul Margetts believes a shake up of the state’s bail laws and the creation of a night magistrates’ court for bail requests will benefit people in the region.
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After the Bourke Street tragedy on Friday, where a bailed man drove a car into pedestrians in Melbourne, the state government announced a new night court for violent offenders’ bail applications in scenarios where police opposed bail.
Supreme court judge and public prosecutions director Justice Paul Coghlan will also review bail systems.
Superintendent Margetts said the region did not have a problem where offenders were being released on bail, opposed by police, without risks of re-offending being mitigated.
But he welcomed the review into bail legislation, systems and processes and said the night court system could help speed up the application process and save bail justices from fatigue.
“We probably won’t experience a huge change across the Wimmera, as we’ve been well served by the bail justice program,” he said.
“One thing we do talk about is the fatigue of the bail justices who service the Wimmera.
“They often have to drive in the early hours of the morning. We’ve got bail justices travelling, as volunteers essentially, at high risk times on the road.
“From a safety point of view, we’d welcome the concept of night court.
“We’ve also got significant advancements in technology where we can use video conference equipment and alleviate that need to travel.
“Technology would also help speed up the process. It might be a case where it’s appropriate the person is bailed but we need to engage the court process to do that, so this could cut down delays.”
Superintendent Margetts said while recidivist youth offenders had been bailed in the past in the Wimmera before re-offending, this change would likely not affect them.
He said time behind bars was often not the best option for non-violent crime youth offenders.
“It does happen from time to time with youth offenders but having said that our experience of the bail process hasn’t created significant concern for us,” he said.
“Entry into the justice system might not be the best option for youth offenders’ development. Instead it’s about working with them and for other agencies to work on development.”
Donations for the immediate families of those killed in Bourke Street can be made via the website www.vic.gov.au/bourkestreet.html
For urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Witnesses and victims requiring support can also call the Victim's Support Helpline on 1800 819 817.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
