Tough new organised crime laws targeting money laundering, unexplained wealth and dedicated encrypted devices are now in effect, as the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government ramps up the fight against organised crime.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said these landmark laws were designed to keep people safe and would help stamp out organised crime across our state.
"These tough new laws will put organised criminals and their affiliates across NSW on notice that we will use every possible tool at our disposal to bring them down," Mr Perrottet said.
"Stronger laws and more powers will keep people safe and will be crucial in our ongoing fight to disrupt the operations of organised criminal networks."
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the reforms would be game-changers for law enforcement, allowing them to more effectively target organised crime networks profits and destroy gangs' capacity to finance further crime.
"Today marks the beginning of the end for organised criminal networks, looking to reap the benefits of their insidious crimes," Mr Toole said.
"The state's toughest ever organised crime laws are now in effect, putting our police in the strongest position yet to cut organised criminals off at the source, and incapacitate them financially.
"From today, organised criminals will sleep with one eye open - knowing police are coming after them with tough new penalties and sweeping powers to seize any ill-gotten wealth."
Last week, NSW Police mobilised two new outposts of the Raptor Squad to the north and south of the state, sending a clear message to organised crime networks wanting to spread their tentacles to the regions that there's nowhere to hide.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said NSW Police will continue to target organised criminal networks using a suite of strategies, including the additional capabilities available to them under the new laws.
"Detectives will continue to closely watch and investigate the individuals running major criminal syndicates, and the businesses that facilitate organised crime," Commissioner Webb said.
"The new laws will provide these dedicated officers with additional tools to allow them to continue to disrupt entire criminal networks, the business operations run by the networks, and limit their capacity to avoid law enforcement and make profits.
"As organised criminal networks resort to using more sophisticated methods of operating, NSW Police is dedicated to fighting crime on the same level."
Organised crime reforms now available to police and law enforcement include:
- New powers to confiscate unlawfully acquired assets of major convicted drug traffickers.
- Enhanced powers to target and confiscate unexplained wealth.
- Expanded powers to stop and search for unexplained wealth and more effectively investigate organised crime.
- New money laundering offences for those dealing with and caught trying to disguise the proceeds of general crime.
- A new offence that prohibits the possession of a dedicated encrypted criminal communication device (DECCD) - and orders to target high risk individuals likely to use them.
- New powers to enable police to direct a person to provide access to a digital device, which is akin to gaining the keys to a safe.
- New laws for the security industry to target industry integrity and safeguard against misconduct and organised crime.
- New laws for the scrap metal industry to strengthen registration requirements and make it harder for illegitimate dealers who pay criminals cash in exchange for stolen parts and property to operate.
- New laws making it illegal for members of a criminal organisation to hold a tattoo licence.
