THE South Australian government is clamping down on criminal gangs with a raft of measures aimed at disrupting their activities and giving greater protection to victims.
Attorney-General John Rau announced today a package of measures that includes making it a criminal office to participate in a criminal organisation.
Under the new measures, known gang members will be banned from certain places, have their driver licences and other licences revoked, and be prevented from using electronic media.
New conditions will also allow for a presumption against bail to help support vulnerable witnesses, and incentives to encourage informers.
The package also enables frightened witnesses to give special evidence out of court in limited circumstances and options to prevent jury tampering, including having a case heard by a judge alone.
Mr Rau said the measures would make it more difficult for criminal gangs to operate.
Not only have we found a way to disrupt the association of criminal gang members, the government has also developed wide-ranging measures to damage the organisational structure of crime gangs and increase the chances of securing convictions," he said.
"Together, these measures give the police new tools to interfere with the daily business of criminal gangs.
"We are also giving witnesses and victims new levels of protection from intimidation, increasing the chances of putting criminals behind bars."
Mr Rau said the anti-crime package would be introduced to parliament as soon as possible
