The Victorian Government has introduced the Major Crime and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 to strengthen Victoria’s asset confiscation laws, giving authorities more power to investigate, seize proceeds of crime and disrupt organised crime on the black market.
Rising cybercrime is also considered, with specialist Victoria Police staff set to have more power to investigate online child grooming using assumed identities, under the supervision of a police officer.
“These reforms will provide law enforcement with greater opportunities to confiscate proceeds of crime, ensuring there’s no pay day for criminals,” said Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes.
The requirement for the Chief Commissioner of Police to be satisfied that it would be impossible or impracticable for a sworn officer to acquire or use an assumed identity will be removed.
To combat the growing use of digital cryptocurrencies by organised crime, authorities will be able to compel cryptocurrency platforms to hand over information about suspects like banks currently must, and seize digital ‘wallets’.
“The way criminals operate is changing rapidly – we need to be just as quick in empowering our police to respond to new ways of offending, crack down on crime and keep the community safe,” said Minister for Police Anthony Carbines.
There will also be improved police powers to obtain electronic data when executing search warrants such as taking copies off computers and storage devices, letting officers bring specialist help or skills to execute a warrant like a locksmith, and streamlining court oversight of the execution of search warrants.
More victims’ compensation will be able to be paid from forfeited property including by removing the requirement that compensation must relate to the same offence for which someone’s property was forfeited. A conviction for possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms and other drug and sexual offences will also trigger the automatic forfeiture of assets.
