The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) is calling for immediate action to address the alarming rate of repeat offenders being granted bail and reoffending, placing the Canberra community at growing risk.
ACT Policing officers are dealing daily with the fallout from lenient bail decisions that allow high-risk offenders to re-enter the community with little oversight. The AFPA is urging the ACT Government and federal authorities to review and strengthen bail laws to ensure that those with established histories of violence or repeat criminal behaviour are not released without firm conditions and active supervision.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said members in ACT Policing are arresting the same people again and again, often for serious crimes committed while already on bail.
“This revolving door of offending undermines the justice system, frustrates police, and endangers the public.
“Bail should be a privilege based on trust and risk, not a default position that places the safety of the community second,” Mr Caruana said.
Recent ACT Policing media releases highlight a disturbing pattern of repeat offending while on bail:
- 13 October 2025: A man on bail for similar offences led police on a high-speed pursuit through south Canberra and was later charged with furious driving.
- 7 October 2025: Four teenagers on bail for prior offences were charged over a series of vehicle thefts.
- 30 September 2025: An 18-year-old male, already on bail for comparable alleged offences, was charged after an overnight police pursuit involving dangerous driving and failing to stop.
- 10 September 2025: A man on bail broke into a Canberra home and stole firearms, and was later charged with theft and unauthorised possession of weapons.
- 16 August 2025: Two teenage girls aged 14 and 16, both on bail, were charged after a pursuit in a stolen Lexus that ended in a crash on Ginninderra Drive. Charges included aggravated dangerous driving, theft, assaulting police, and breach of bail.
- Also on 16 August 2025: A 24-year-old man from Belconnen, already subject to bail conditions, was charged after a head-on collision in Isaacs while driving under the influence, injuring a father and young daughter. His breath alcohol reading was 0.173.
- 16 July 2025: A 28-year-old man from Gowrie, on bail for other matters, was arrested for multiple thefts across two days, including stealing designer sunglasses while armed with a knife and using counterfeit $100 notes.
Mr Caruana said these cases are only a snapshot of what our members are seeing.
“Every week, police deal with people who have been granted bail and are back offending within days. In many cases, these individuals have multiple active matters before the courts.
“The system is failing both victims and offenders by not addressing the root causes of their behaviour or ensuring real accountability,” Mr Caruana said.
AFPA analysis of ACT Policing data from recent months shows consistent reoffending by individuals already on bail, often involving dangerous driving, property theft, and violent conduct. Many of these offences endanger police officers and the public, drain resources, and add unnecessary pressure to already stretched frontline services.
The AFPA believes the time for reviews and discussion has passed. It is calling on the ACT Legislative Assembly to act now by amending bail legislation to:
- Require electronic monitoring for those assessed as high risk but still deemed eligible for bail.
- Improve information sharing between police, courts, and corrective services to track compliance in real time.
- Expand support services that target the underlying causes of recidivism, including substance abuse and housing instability, while ensuring that community safety remains the primary consideration.
Mr Caruana said that the AFPA are not calling for a punitive system.
“We are calling for a sensible, evidence-based approach that recognises patterns of behaviour and protects the community.
“Police do not want to keep arresting the same people for the same crimes. They want a system that stops this cycle before it ends in tragedy. The AFPA is ready to work with the ACT Government, the courts, and community organisations to design reforms that maintain fairness and uphold public confidence.
“Every Canberran deserves to feel safe in their home, at work, and on the roads. Without real change, the cost will keep climbing, measured in victims, in police injuries, and in the community’s faith in justice.” Mr Caruana said.
Media Contact:
AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts – (02) 6285 1677 – troy.r@afpa.org.au
The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) is calling for immediate action to address the alarming rate of repeat offenders being granted bail and reoffending, placing the Canberra community at growing risk.
ACT Policing officers are dealing daily with the fallout from lenient bail decisions that allow high-risk offenders to re-enter the community with little oversight. The AFPA is urging the ACT Government and federal authorities to review and strengthen bail laws to ensure that those with established histories of violence or repeat criminal behaviour are not released without firm conditions and active supervision.
AFPA President Alex Caruana said members in ACT Policing are arresting the same people again and again, often for serious crimes committed while already on bail.
“This revolving door of offending undermines the justice system, frustrates police, and endangers the public.
“Bail should be a privilege based on trust and risk, not a default position that places the safety of the community second,” Mr Caruana said.
Recent ACT Policing media releases highlight a disturbing pattern of repeat offending while on bail:
- 13 October 2025: A man on bail for similar offences led police on a high-speed pursuit through south Canberra and was later charged with furious driving.
- 7 October 2025: Four teenagers on bail for prior offences were charged over a series of vehicle thefts.
- 30 September 2025: An 18-year-old male, already on bail for comparable alleged offences, was charged after an overnight police pursuit involving dangerous driving and failing to stop.
- 10 September 2025: A man on bail broke into a Canberra home and stole firearms, and was later charged with theft and unauthorised possession of weapons.
- 16 August 2025: Two teenage girls aged 14 and 16, both on bail, were charged after a pursuit in a stolen Lexus that ended in a crash on Ginninderra Drive. Charges included aggravated dangerous driving, theft, assaulting police, and breach of bail.
- Also on 16 August 2025: A 24-year-old man from Belconnen, already subject to bail conditions, was charged after a head-on collision in Isaacs while driving under the influence, injuring a father and young daughter. His breath alcohol reading was 0.173.
- 16 July 2025: A 28-year-old man from Gowrie, on bail for other matters, was arrested for multiple thefts across two days, including stealing designer sunglasses while armed with a knife and using counterfeit $100 notes.
Mr Caruana said these cases are only a snapshot of what our members are seeing.
“Every week, police deal with people who have been granted bail and are back offending within days. In many cases, these individuals have multiple active matters before the courts.
“The system is failing both victims and offenders by not addressing the root causes of their behaviour or ensuring real accountability,” Mr Caruana said.
AFPA analysis of ACT Policing data from recent months shows consistent reoffending by individuals already on bail, often involving dangerous driving, property theft, and violent conduct. Many of these offences endanger police officers and the public, drain resources, and add unnecessary pressure to already stretched frontline services.
The AFPA believes the time for reviews and discussion has passed. It is calling on the ACT Legislative Assembly to act now by amending bail legislation to:
- Require electronic monitoring for those assessed as high risk but still deemed eligible for bail.
- Improve information sharing between police, courts, and corrective services to track compliance in real time.
- Expand support services that target the underlying causes of recidivism, including substance abuse and housing instability, while ensuring that community safety remains the primary consideration.
Mr Caruana said that the AFPA are not calling for a punitive system.
“We are calling for a sensible, evidence-based approach that recognises patterns of behaviour and protects the community.
“Police do not want to keep arresting the same people for the same crimes. They want a system that stops this cycle before it ends in tragedy. The AFPA is ready to work with the ACT Government, the courts, and community organisations to design reforms that maintain fairness and uphold public confidence.
“Every Canberran deserves to feel safe in their home, at work, and on the roads. Without real change, the cost will keep climbing, measured in victims, in police injuries, and in the community’s faith in justice.” Mr Caruana said.
Media Contact:
AFPA Media and Government Relations Manager Troy Roberts – (02) 6285 1677 – troy.r@afpa.org.au
