Categories
transport

Joining the dots: Which leads to less crime – zero tolerance, or removing lead pollution?

Our state government in the past has cited New York City zero-tolerance policies introduced by Rudolph Giuliani as inspiration for measures like Protective Service Officers, which will eventually see two armed guards on every metropolitan railway station after 6pm: Mr Ryan said he was intent on establishing a Giuliani-style zero tolerance approach in Victoria, and  ... [More]

Categories
Bentleigh driving

Lock up your motors

My neighbour Bob had his car broken into this morning. He said he heard noises outside and went out to find a bloke smashing up the steering wheel and console, apparently trying to hotwire it. When the bloke realised Bob was out there he shouted “I’m coming out mate, I’m coming out!” He did so,  ... [More]

Categories
Politics and activism

Crime and punishment

The barber the other day was having a rant about crime (as well as a number of other issues), and claimed that white-collar criminals almost always get caught (specifically, he reckoned they get caught 95% of the time), but muggers and others who commit crimes against the person almost never get caught (he reckoned 95%  ... [More]

Categories
transport

Armed guards at stations

The debate around armed Protective Service Officers on stations is heating up. The Police Association, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Public Transport Users Association want a high-level meeting to develop the best way of tackling crime and safety problems. … Support for the armed guard plan is evaporating. … There now appears  ... [More]

Categories
Melbourne

Through others’ eyes

If you think with the traffic, sprawl, crime and the crowding the city’s going down the toilet, just check this almost hopelessly optimistic, positive report on Melbourne from 2005 for the Johannesburg Star. After spending five days in Melbourne and the state of Victoria, it’s easy to see why Australia so appeals to South Africans  ... [More]