Activist Rights

Other possible criminal charges

Estimated reading: 2 minutes

Sometimes, activists get charged with unexpected crimes or crimes that aren’t usually associated with protests.

The Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) offence of stalking was originally intended to give more force to the Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 (Vic).

However, given the wide definition of stalking in section 21A(2) of the Act, the offence of stalking has the potential to be applied to protest situations.

Stalking includes:

  • following,
  • telephoning, or
  • giving offensive material to –

– someone where there is the intention of causing physical or mental harm and the course of conduct engaged in actually did have that result.

The penalty for this offence is up to 10 years jail.

Burglary is the offence of trespassing on property with criminal intent (ie. to commit an offence such as theft, assault or criminal damage).

This could be used where protesters enter private property with the deliberate intention to damage it.

The penalty is up to 10 years imprisonment (or 15 years for an “aggravated burglary” where the person was reckless as to whether a person was present at the time of entering the property).

There are a number of different charges of assault.

Each different charge has a different penalty range, that can depend on:

  • how the assault occurred,
  • whether a weapon was used,
  • if the victim was injured, and
  • how badly the victim was injured.

Summary and indictable (more serious) assault or causing injury charges all carry significant maximum penalties, including terms of imprisonment.

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