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Police get new powers in Australia’s biggest state: Here’s how they could affect you
Police now have the power to take cash from organized crime gangs as part of new criminal-cracking laws introduced this week.
Suspects with more than $250,000 in cash or $2 million in assets will now be subject to a restraining order if they cannot explain how they earned their money.
The new laws include encrypted digital devices favored by criminals, tattoo licenses and money laundering.
They also give police powers to order a person to provide access to a digital device.
Police now have the power to take cash from organized crime gangs in NSW
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb says the new laws will make it easier for officers to disrupt criminal networks.
“The new laws will provide these dedicated officers with additional tools that will allow them to continue to disrupt entire criminal networks, the commercial operations run by the networks, and limit their ability to avoid law enforcement and profit.”
Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet said these landmark laws were designed to keep people safe and would help crack down on organized crime across our state.
“These tough new laws will put organized criminals and their affiliates in NSW on notice that we will use every possible tool at our disposal to bring them down,” Perrottet said.
“Stricter laws and more powers will keep people safe and will be crucial in our continued fight to disrupt the operations of organized criminal networks.”
New powers allow police to order a person to provide access to a digital device
Deputy Prime Minister and Police Minister Paul Toole said the reforms would be a game changer for law enforcement, allowing them to more effectively target the profits of organized crime networks and destroy the ability of gangs to finance more crimes.
“Today marks the beginning of the end for organized criminal networks, which seek to reap the benefits of their insidious crimes,” said Mr. Toole.
‘The toughest organized crime laws in the state are already in effect, putting our police in the strongest position yet to cut off organized criminals at the source and cripple them financially.
“Starting today, organized criminals will sleep with one eye open, knowing that the police will come after them with new, harsher penalties and sweeping powers to seize any ill-gotten wealth.”