Police are given new powers in Australia's largest state – here's how they could impact you

Police now have the power to take cash from organised crime gangs as part of new laws to crack down on criminals introduced this week.

Suspects with more than $250,000 cash or $2 million in assets will now be subject to a court restraining order if they cannot explain how they made their money. 

The new laws include targeting digital encrypted devices favoured by criminals, tattoo licences, and money laundering.  

They also grant police powers to direct a person to provide access to a digital device.

Police now have the power to take cash from organised crime gangs in NSW

New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb says the new laws will make it easier for officers to disrupt criminal networks.

‘The new laws will provide these dedicated officers with additional tools to allow them to continue to disrupt entire criminal networks, the business operations run by the networks, and limit their capacity to avoid law enforcement and make profits.’

Premier Dominic Perrottet said these landmark laws were designed to keep people safe and would help stamp out organised crime across our state.

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‘These tough new laws will put organised criminals and their affiliates across NSW on notice that we will use every possible tool at our disposal to bring them down,’ Mr Perrottet said.

‘Stronger laws and more powers will keep people safe and will be crucial in our ongoing fight to disrupt the operations of organised criminal networks.’

New powers enable police to direct a person to provide access to a digital device

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the reforms would be game-changers for law enforcement, allowing them to more effectively target organised crime networks profits and destroy gangs’ capacity to finance further crime.

‘Today marks the beginning of the end for organised criminal networks, looking to reap the benefits of their insidious crimes,’ Mr Toole said.

‘The state’s toughest ever organised crime laws are now in effect, putting our police in the strongest position yet to cut organised criminals off at the source, and incapacitate them financially.

‘From today, organised criminals will sleep with one eye open – knowing police are coming after them with tough new penalties and sweeping powers to seize any ill-gotten wealth.’