The ACT Director of Public Prosecutions says she fears her office will have to start turning away cases due to the sheer volume of them. She has called for more government funding to better support the office, and says sexual and family violence offences have risen exponentially in recent years.
00:0018 months into the job and already the Director of Public Prosecutions is fed up.
00:09I have described my office as the vehicle through which either justice is achieved or not achieved if you're a victim of crime in Canberra
00:16and presently we are simply not funded to deal with a number of files that are coming into the office.
00:21On top of what Ms Engle describes as the 10 year funding deficit, there's been an exponential increase in prosecutions.
00:29Last financial year the office received 935 fresh family violence matters, a 17% increase on the previous year and a 50% jump from 5 years ago.
00:42249 new sexual violence prosecutions also landed on her desk, a 23% increase on the year before and a 170% jump from 5 years ago.
00:56So I imagine in particular offence categories I'll be saying to the Chief Police Officer, tell me to which matters you wish me to prosecute.
01:01It would be a grave step taken as a last resort, unless the ACT Government steps up soon.
01:09I have certainly seen a commitment from the Attorney General to fix the long-standing funding deficit, but that to date has not been matched with any substantial funding.
01:19Legal Aid ACT's Chief Executive John Borsig knows the feeling. His office is already turning people away due to inadequate funding.
01:28If you want a good justice system, you need to fund it.
01:31Mr Borsig finds the prospect of the DPP doing the same alarming.
01:36From a community point of view and from a justice point of view, we need to ensure that all matters are properly considered.
01:44The union says police will always do their job.
01:47But it does leave a difficult conversation for potential victims who may not have their avenue to justice answered.
01:56Attorney General Tara Chain was unavailable for interview today, but in a statement, a spokesperson said the Government recognises the pressures on the DPP and has made targeted investments to ensure it's adequately resourced.
02:11Adding the Attorney General will continue to engage with Ms Engel on these issues.
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