Crime rates in Victoria are triggering discussions from both within and outside the parliament about longer sentences

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Crime is the major thorn in the side of Premier Jacinta Allan’s government and Labor MPs are growing increasingly stressed about the issue. It's prompted calls from within as well as outside government for a serious debate about longer sentences.

Transcript

00:00It may sound obvious, but for the sake of community safety and the government's re-election

00:07chances, Victoria's soaring crime rate must come down.

00:11With every violent incident, questions about the Premier's grip on law and order grow,

00:16and Labor MPs are worried.

00:17There's a growing realisation that something needs to change, and it can't just be about

00:22machete bins and bail.

00:24There is more to do because this dangerous repeat pattern of behaviour just will not

00:28be tolerated.

00:29Commissioner Mike Bush's plan for more police on the front line has been welcomed,

00:34but the big challenge is sentencing reform.

00:36There's a growing view amongst Ministers and MPs that they need to be longer.

00:40And it's not just a punitive strategy, there's a belief that longer sentences give prisons

00:45more time to rehabilitate young offenders.

00:48Sentencing leads to safer streets, and it's about what happens while they're in detention,

00:53are they being deterred, are they getting into rehab, are they being a willing participant,

00:57and then that transition from custody to community will lead to a safer Victoria.

01:01High-level talks about sentencing reform are underway, and the Premier has conceded that there

01:06needs to be more consequences.

01:07Frustrated MPs and police lay some of the blame at the feet of the courts.

01:12And then there's retail crime.

01:14Melbourne is Australia's retail theft capital.

01:17It's a major problem, and the union protecting workers has slammed the government for taking too

01:21long to introduce promised laws to protect them.

01:24Our members are suffering, stop dilly-dallying round, and make a decision to protect our members.

01:31There's still more than 12 months until the next state election, but with brazen and terrifying

01:36crimes nearly a daily occurrence, and offenders openly mocking the justice system, the Premier

01:41will be hoping that the rot hasn't set in.

01:44?

01:45Can't be نےahen.

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