Frustration with revolving door system ‘palpable’

GOLD Coast MP Sam O’Connor says the court system is letting down the community in its bail process.

“Our community have the right to be kept safe,” the Bonney MP said. “The community is sick of these slaps on the wrist.

“The Gold Coast is struggling enough with not just a lack of police but cuts to our police numbers.

“We don’t need soft magistrates letting crooks with a clear history of reoffending back out again.”

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the revolving door needed to be shut.

“The weak bail laws in Queensland are nothing more than a revolving door,” Mr Leavers said.

“Police arrest alleged offenders, we put them before the courts, and we object to their bail because of their high risk of reoffending.

“We then see them granted bail by magistrates, we arrest them again, the process begins all over again, and around and around we go. Our frustration with the current revolving door system of bail is palpable.”

He said police objected to bail for a reason.

“We don’t do it lightly. Yet too often we see offenders get bail again and again.

“The solution to fixing the Bail Act is for the Government to strengthen the weak bail laws so courts place greater weight on submissions from police when we object to bail.”

Chief Magistrate Ray Rinaudo said it was up to the Magistrate’s discretion when deciding on bail.

“Judicial discretion when determining bail is exercised independently of any outside influence,” Mr Rinaudo said.

A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said they’ve received no correspondence from the union or police about bail concerns.