New anti-consorting scheme set to obstruct organised criminal activity in WA

Western Australia could soon have the toughest anti-consorting laws in the country, which can be used by police to disrupt and restrict serious and organised crime.

The Criminal Law (Unlawful Consorting) Bill 2019 (the Bill) implements the WA Government’s commitment to fight organised crime in WA by disrupting communication and networking between convicted offenders.

The proposed laws will provide WA Police with the power to issue an unlawful consorting notice, which may result in prosecution if the person who is issued the notice consorts with a person with whom they are not to consort on two or more occasions during the three-year period that the notice is in force.

A person found guilty of the new unlawful consorting offence will face up to five years’ imprisonment.

Source: WA Government