Criminals who commit offences and then boast about them on social media will face harsher sentences from the courts under a new law proposed by the Liberals.
The “post and boast” policy revealed on Friday will make online posts as a specific aggravating factor to be considered during sentencing, allowing Tasmania Police to use online content as evidence.
“There’s a new generation of criminals bragging about theft, assault, hooning and worse on social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat and it’s disgusting,” Liberal Leader Jeremy Rockliff said.
“They don’t care about their victims, they incite copy-cats and they think they’re above the law. This has to stop, so we’re going to do everything we can to throw the book at them.”
Rockliff had a simple message for the “up and coming generation of criminals”, warning “you’re not going to keep getting away with it.”
A new offence for road rage is also in the works, alongside double penalties for dangerous and reckless driving and motor vehicle stealing, while also making it easier for vehicles to be forfeited to the Crown or crushed.
The policy follows an announcement earlier today from the Liberals to recruit extra police and set up a Strikeforce targeting youth crime and repeat offenders.
