18 November 2012

A hero emerges in Duffy

18 November 2012 | By johnboy

Members of the public intervened to detain a suspect in the early hours of this morning, which led to ACT Policing arresting and charging a 15-year-old boy for aggravated burglary.

An 18-year-old man had been with a group of friends in Duffy, waiting for a lift from his father around 12.50am today (Sunday, November 18) when another group of young people, including one with a red bandanna tied across his face, were seen to walk across the carpark toward the Duffy shops.

The man left with his father and friends but concerned about the suspicious behaviour they had witnessed, drove back to the Duffy shops a short time later to see the same group of people running from the shops, and two youths climbing from a hole smashed in the glass shopfront of one store.

The 18-year-old man gave chase on foot across the nearby oval, and tackled one of the offenders to the ground. The 15-year-old alleged offender was then detained while police were called.

The young person, from South Canberra, was charged with aggravated burglary and will face the ACT Childrens Court tomorrow (Monday, November 19). Police are urging any witnesses who may have information about the burglary at the Duffy shops, or may be able to identify other co-offenders, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the website at www.act.crimestoppers.com.au. Information may be provided anonymously.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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TheDancingDjinn7:44 pm 28 Nov 12

IrishPete said :

“Some prisons in this country allow Foxtel in the cells.”

Not in the AMC. Free to air digital channels only. No internet access either.

“Some prisons in this country allow niceties in the cells – personal toasters, cooking apparatus’, special foods they enjoy.”

In AMC, kettles in cells (last time I heard). Not much else. But many prisoners live in self-catering units, so they have access to other cooking apparatus because they need to. Also the “special foods” if they are needed for self-catering. But no yeast or sugar. (Think about it.) Not sure what they do, for example, to feed Indonesian accused people-smugglers who would probably struggle with our Western diet.

That wasn’t much of a list.

As for remandees having long lists of criminal convictions, well the alleged people smugglers don’t, and nor does the gent with suspected Alzheimers. So it pays not to generalise too much.

IP

You asked i answered – i wasn’t only talking about the AMC which is why i said ” some prisons in AUSTRALIA”

And as for self catered units, well that’s what i’m talking about.. they should not have it – if an Indonesian man is smuggling in people and is in jail here.. well i don’t care what he thinks he needs to eat – do you really think Asian people can only eat rice? do you think a sandwich will kill them? it wont – they get no special food, nor a place to cook it – 3 meals and a stack of books and shut up. i think that’s easy.
And as for the ” give them nothing to lose and they will act like it” do you give in to a tantrum throwing child too? no you don’t, you tell it to sit down and eat its veges or it gets nothing else to eat – why is that a hard thing to say to a criminal?

and yes a lot of Victorian prisons have foxtel in the cells, and those are for the highly violent criminals that are in there for hurting the public… i find that disgusting, but that’s me.

Pork Hunt5:24 pm 28 Nov 12

NoImRight said :

One advantage of priveleges in prison is its a form of control. If they have something that can be taken away they can be punished. Give them nothing to lose and they will act like it.

I started out with nothing and still have most of it left…

IrishPete1:17 pm 28 Nov 12

“Some prisons in this country allow Foxtel in the cells.”

Not in the AMC. Free to air digital channels only. No internet access either.

“Some prisons in this country allow niceties in the cells – personal toasters, cooking apparatus’, special foods they enjoy.”

In AMC, kettles in cells (last time I heard). Not much else. But many prisoners live in self-catering units, so they have access to other cooking apparatus because they need to. Also the “special foods” if they are needed for self-catering. But no yeast or sugar. (Think about it.) Not sure what they do, for example, to feed Indonesian accused people-smugglers who would probably struggle with our Western diet.

That wasn’t much of a list.

As for remandees having long lists of criminal convictions, well the alleged people smugglers don’t, and nor does the gent with suspected Alzheimers. So it pays not to generalise too much.

NoImRight12:22 pm 28 Nov 12

One advantage of priveleges in prison is its a form of control. If they have something that can be taken away they can be punished. Give them nothing to lose and they will act like it.

Chop7110:58 am 28 Nov 12

Do they seriously get foxtel? You can’t be serious? Please tell me they are not sitting there watching the crime investigation channel all day.

Stevian10:41 am 28 Nov 12

KeenGolfer said :

IrishPete said :

Incidentally a third of them are on Remand and are therefore innocent until proven guilty – they cannot be referred to as “criminal offenders”.

Except for the fact they already have a long prior list of criminal convictions, so they are criminal offenders.

Except. under law, one can not be tried for the same crime twice, so they are not criminal offenders, under law

TheDancingDjinn9:05 pm 27 Nov 12

IrishPete said :

devils_advocate said :

I recently attended a seminar which covered topics including Australia’s only human-rights compliant detention facility (which, given the human rights appear largely determined by the jurisdiction itself with only loose reference to internatinoal law… nevermind). Anyway, my current understanding is that the AMC goes well beyond the minimum requirements that people would expect in terms of accomodation, recreational facilities, etc.

I think the term ‘human rights’ has been used to justify a far more privileged experience for criminal offenders in AMC than what would ordinarily be expected by society. I think this money could be spent on more deserving (less undeserving?) individuals in our community.

I asked for specifics and still none are being provided. Should the roofs of their cells have holes for the rain to come in? Should the beds have no mattresses? Should they be locked in their cells 23 hours a day?

Incidentally a third of them are on Remand and are therefore innocent until proven guilty – they cannot be referred to as “criminal offenders”.

IP

I imagine the specifics would be..
Some prisons in this country allow Foxtel in the cells. – Now personally i don’t think that should be allowed.
Some prisons in this country allow niceties in the cells – personal toasters, cooking apparatus’, special foods they enjoy. – Nope i don’t like that either.

Personally i think if you have gotten to the point where you are in prison for so long that you think you need this stuff, then you don’t deserve it.

I have shown compassion for some criminals before, but it is very rare ( i think that coming from war is a better reason to be messed up than say growing up in Emu Ridge, and not having a lot of money)
that aside..

I am not saying hurt them, or freeze them, or starve them, or even deprive them of education ( let’s face it, we want them to have some kind of way to make honest money right?) But do not allow them things that people on the outside who have never done anything wrong cannot afford,because of what ever reason.

Again, only speaking for myself..

KeenGolfer8:34 pm 27 Nov 12

IrishPete said :

Incidentally a third of them are on Remand and are therefore innocent until proven guilty – they cannot be referred to as “criminal offenders”.

Except for the fact they already have a long prior list of criminal convictions, so they are criminal offenders.

IrishPete8:12 pm 27 Nov 12

devils_advocate said :

I recently attended a seminar which covered topics including Australia’s only human-rights compliant detention facility (which, given the human rights appear largely determined by the jurisdiction itself with only loose reference to internatinoal law… nevermind). Anyway, my current understanding is that the AMC goes well beyond the minimum requirements that people would expect in terms of accomodation, recreational facilities, etc.

I think the term ‘human rights’ has been used to justify a far more privileged experience for criminal offenders in AMC than what would ordinarily be expected by society. I think this money could be spent on more deserving (less undeserving?) individuals in our community.

I asked for specifics and still none are being provided. Should the roofs of their cells have holes for the rain to come in? Should the beds have no mattresses? Should they be locked in their cells 23 hours a day?

Incidentally a third of them are on Remand and are therefore innocent until proven guilty – they cannot be referred to as “criminal offenders”.

devils_advocate8:48 am 26 Nov 12

IrishPete said :

devils_advocate said :

I don’t object to human rights at all. I support human rights. I’m just saying we should be prioritising the human rights of non-criminals over those of criminals (by the time they end up in AMC, usually career criminals).

Human rights such as food, shelter, safety, education, etc.

It would be kinda hard to lock people up against their will (prison) and not provide them with food and shelter. Education might be optional, but as for safety, if you lock someone up and make no effort to keep them safe, you’ll probably end up being sued for damages.

Of course everyone in the community should have access to affordable and decent food, housing and educaton, and be safe (which often goes with decent housing). These are basic human rights.

But to go back to the original point, if imprisonment makes the public less safe by making offenders “worse”, then the goal of keeping the community safe is missed. Locking people up forever sounds like a great idea (as someone else implies), but only if you want to pay taxes high enough to build and operate many more AMCs.

IP

I recently attended a seminar which covered topics including Australia’s only human-rights compliant detention facility (which, given the human rights appear largely determined by the jurisdiction itself with only loose reference to internatinoal law… nevermind). Anyway, my current understanding is that the AMC goes well beyond the minimum requirements that people would expect in terms of accomodation, recreational facilities, etc.

I think the term ‘human rights’ has been used to justify a far more privileged experience for criminal offenders in AMC than what would ordinarily be expected by society. I think this money could be spent on more deserving (less undeserving?) individuals in our community.