A petition calling on stricter bail laws and more powers for police has received an overwhelming response from the community.
Concerned by escalating crime against local residents and police, Tarneit resident Arnav Sati said he felt compelled to act, so last week started an online petition calling on the state government to implement an immediate change to bail laws, hold the justice system to account regarding repeat offenders released on bail and give police more power to control violent offenders.
The petition has amassed more than 15,500 signatures since going live.
Mr Sati, who has lived in the western suburbs for the past 18 years, said he had never felt so unsafe. He believes the current justice system is encouraging repeat offenders and shows no respect to victims of crime.
“We’re promoting a culture where there is no consequence for a crime,” he said. “We’re being too soft. The situation was never [as bad] as this – this is an emerging crisis, and the people in power, the people who can actually do something, they’re just sitting.
“I am living in fear. I have to think about my safety when I go on the street, go to the local parks, walk home from the train station.
“It is not actually about a particular race or religion. Whether it’s an Aussie teenager of any background, whether it’s a person on a resident visa of any background or age – if someone does something, they should know there’s a consequence, and they should be punished for it.”
Mr Sati said that since starting the petition, he had had many victims of crime from across the western suburbs sharing their ordeals with him.
To sign the petition, go to bit.ly/2B1v2hk
