Lawyers say new offence, introduced after four police officers were filmed dying, may have unintended negative consequences
A mural dedicated to senior constable Lynette Taylor, constable Glen Humphris, senior constable Kevin King and constable Josh Prestney, who were filmed by Richard Pusey as they lay dying in 2020.A mural dedicated to senior constable Lynette Taylor, constable Glen Humphris, senior constable Kevin King and constable Josh Prestney, who were filmed by Richard Pusey as they lay dying in 2020.
In sentencing Pusey, the judge commented that there were only six reported examples of its use in Australia between 1899 and 1978, all of which related to offenders exposing themselves in public. The most recent Victorian example was reported in 1963.“Police officers and the director of Public Prosecutions found was there wasn’t an offence that fit that behaviour to charge Pusey with,” she told reporters outside parliament.
Being intoxicated or using only indecent, obscene or profane language will be excluded from the offence. The law includes safeguards to ensure the offence is not used to target anyone unfairly, including requiring the director of Public Prosecutions to agree to the offence being charged.