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People convicted of serious violent or sexual offenses in Western Australia will face a mandatory five-year ban from Perth’s most popular nightlife areas.
Designated zones in Northbridge, Fremantle, Hillarys, Scarborough and Mandurah would be the target of legislation to be proposed by the McGowan government to parliament next month.
Mandatory bans from the five districts would apply to people convicted of offenses including murder, unauthorized sexual penetration, unlawful assault resulting in death and drinking alcohol.
People convicted of serious violent or sexual offenses in Western Australia face a mandatory five-year ban from Perth nightclubs
Those who violate the orders, which take effect after their release from prison, face up to five years in prison or a $12,000 fine.
The police would also have the power to issue bans on the spot for up to six months, subject to the approval of an inspector or senior officer.
The orders may apply where a person is believed to have acted in an “unlawful, antisocial, disorderly, abusive, indecent and threatening manner” or if they are believed to be capable of causing violence, public disorder or harming the safety of others .
Exemptions would apply for work, housing, education, health care and other approved purposes. Penalties include two years in prison or a $12,000 fine.
Prime Minister Mark McGowan said he was concerned for the safety of his own teenage sons when they went out in Northbridge and believes the laws would receive strong support.
‘We’ve seen this for years, people are being attacked. Fighting at Hillarys, thugs attacking people and we are doing something about it,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
The prime minister said he was “very comfortable” with the wide scope of the orders and had no sympathy for those affected.
“Cry me a river,” he said.
‘You’re going to assault someone or kill someone, you’re serving your prison sentence, you can’t go to one of these areas. Well, well – you shouldn’t.’
Mark McGowan said he was “very comfortable” with the wide scope of the orders and had no sympathy for those affected. ‘Cry me a river,’ he said
Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the existing 24-hour cancellation notices were not strong enough for some offenders to deter.
When asked how police would monitor possible violations of the warrants, he said body-worn footage would be streamed live from officers in Northbridge and other areas to a central command center that would search for known violators.
It is not yet clear whether the mandatory orders, which have been backed by the state opposition and WA’s top hospitality organization, will be applied retroactively.
Criminal defense attorney Laura Willox questioned whether the proposed laws would have a significant deterrent effect.
Mandatory bans of the five districts would apply to people convicted of crimes including murder and unauthorized sexual penetration
“Unfortunately, people who commit these crimes while under the influence of alcohol and drugs don’t really think about the consequences of their actions,” she told ABC radio.
The designated zones have been named Protected Entertainment Precincts – or PEP – in honor of Giuseppe ‘Pep’ Raco.
Mr Raco, a 40-year-old nightclub manager, died after being beaten in an unprovoked one-off attack outside a Northbridge kebab shop in July 2020.
His widow Enza had lobbied the government to tighten laws regarding violent attacks.
“For Pep, this is for you. We will love you forever and we will always remember you,” she said Wednesday.