Media Release - Review of the operation of the amendments to the consorting law under Part 3A Division 7 of the Crimes Act 1900

Tuesday, 28 February 2023

A Law Enforcement Conduct Commission review of consorting law amendments is recommending Parliament change the law so police cannot use it against children and only target serious organised crime.

Young people face an on-going risk of police charging them with consorting unless changes made to consorting law stopped their possible usage on children, the Commission found.

The calls for Parliament to change consorting law amendments come despite police only charging adults for consorting and reducing the number of consorting warnings for young people, the Commission’s review noted.

Chief Commissioner Peter Johnson SC noted changes to the law could improve their effectiveness.

“Amending the law would ensure no young people are charged in the future, and bring NSW into line with the majority of Australian jurisdictions.

“Consorting laws carry serious penalties, and are designed to target and disrupt the most serious types of organised criminal activity.

“The law should clearly state this intention,” he said.

The recommendation to change consorting law comes after the review found police are often using the laws to warn people about comparatively less serious potential criminal offending.

The NSW Police Force made important changes to its consorting procedures at the end of 2022, according to the Commission’s review.

The Commission will monitor the implementation of its recommendations aimed at improving NSW Police Force procedures and training and report in its next annual report.

The Commission’s review into consorting laws amendments can be found here and a fact sheet about the Commission’s review can be found here.

LECC Media Contact: Rob Schell

Mobile: 0425 317 535

Email: media@lecc.nsw.gov.au