Prison terms for violent parties

Organisers of so called “Facebook Parties” will soon risk massive fines and prison terms as the Newman Government cracks down on out-of-control events.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey confirmed legislation was being drafted by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to penalise wild party organisers and will be presented to Cabinet in the coming months.

The legislation also takes aim at parents allowing their children to hold uncontrollable parties who themselves could be slapped with a $12,100 fine or 12 months behind bars.

The fines and prison terms take a steep upward curve if the party is held at a place where the organiser has no lawful authority to hold the event.

In these situations the party organisers may face fines of up to $18,150 or three years in prison.

Mr Dempsey said the community and police were sick of unsafe and unruly parties putting people at risk and it was time the organisers – some of which make significant profits from the events – were brought to task.

“Increasingly with the advent of social media police are being called to parties where gate crashers, violence or the sheer number of people have contributed to an event becoming out of hand,” Mr Dempsey said.

“I have had enough, police have had enough and the community has had enough of alcohol and drug-fuelled violence stemming from suburban parties and we want to put legislation in place to protect our communities.

“This government is going hit the party hosts in the hip pocket or put them behind bars to give them a little time to think about their actions.”

The proposed legislation will also give police the ability to recover costs for officers required to break up out-of-control parties based upon an hourly rate of resources required.

Additional proposed legislation will give police powers to charge people who fail to comply with their directions when dispersing a wild party.

Those who fail to comply with police directions can receive fines of more than $12,000.

This includes everyone from those not moving on, to the DJ not turning off music when directed.

The Police Legislation (Blue Tape Reduction) Amendment Bill 2013 is set to be considered by State Cabinet in September.

Mr Dempsey said the QPS already monitors social networks for illegal activities ranging from social media gatherings to child exploitation.

He also added that people looking to hold responsible parties can register them by visiting the QPS’ Party Safe webpage at www.police.qld.gov.au/party‎ or visiting their local police station.

Proposed penalties:

·         A person who organises a party that becomes an out-of-control event faces a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment or 110 penalty units ($12,100)

·         If a minor is found guilty of organising an out-of-control party and cannot pay the costs of the police response, the court will be able to call on a parent to show cause why they should not be made to pay if the court considers that the parent may have contributed to the offence by not adequately supervising the minor.

·         If a parent permits a child to organise an event, or permits the event to occur, and the event becomes out-of-control they face 12 months imprisonment or 110 penalty units ($12,100)

·         Gate crashers causing a party to become out-of-control face a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment or 110 penalty units ($12,100)

·         Disobeying a direction relating to an out-of-control event attracts a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment or 110 penalty units ($12,100)

·         Disobeying a direction relating to an out-of-control event with aggression and violence attracts a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment or 165 penalty units ($18,150)

·         Per hour cost recovery charged to party organiser(s) for police required to disperse out-of-control events

[ENDS] 7 July 2013

Media Contact: Alexandra Foley 0418 256 910