Courts: Lack of Security

Hansard: 17 July 2007 ASSEMBLY

Mr CLARK (Box Hill) — Last month the Auditor-General exposed serious weaknesses in the security systems provided by the government for magistrates courts across Victoria. Forty-one courts do not have security cameras and 43 do not have access even to electronic hand wands for security checks. This is despite the fact there have been 584 reported security incidents in magistrates courts over the past two years, and 1382 weapons have been seized in the only two courts that have full weapons checks.

It has now been reported that at the Warrnambool court, which is one of only five courts in regional Victoria that have security cameras, the cameras do not even record what takes place, they simply link back to a screen that is not permanently monitored.

Thus if a shooting or stabbing or other event takes place, there is no film or other recording available to find out exactly what happened or to identify, catch and prosecute the perpetrator.

Events of recent times show an increasing level of violent incidents on our streets and in other public places, as well as the growing threat of internationally organised terrorism. The Attorney-General cannot afford to be complacent or dismissive of these risks. These risks are real, and we know only too well that they can have tragic consequences. Whatever might have been reasonable in less violent times, those who use our magistrates courts today are entitled at minimum to the protection of a security camera system that actually records what is going on. Such camera systems are standard in numerous shopping malls, railway stations and other public places.

It beggars belief that they are not standard in our magistrates courts. To date all the government has done is commission yet another study to look into court security. This problem does not need more studies and delays, it needs immediate action.