Mother of abused child pleads for tougher bail

A mother whose child was raped, stupefied, drugged and groomed over a six year period by a family "friend" has tearfully pleaded with politicians to change the bail laws.

Tania can't be identified for legal reasons, but told MPs considering the changes that the "creature" who abused her daughter breached many bail laws in the two year period while waiting to go on trial.

"He drove past our house day and night. He tried to coerce witnesses to change their stories with threats to them. He threatened the detective in charge of our case with death. He coerced family members to the Government departments to make untrue allegations of myself and my daughter," Tania said.

"It has been an ongoing drama for seeming to have proved that are are the victims, and it should not be my problem to hide my daughter in a safe house, as he knew where we lived."

Sensible Sentencing Trust lawyer Stephen Franks has told MPs the youth justice system is "too soft" and teaches young people how to get away with crime.

The former ACT MP appeared before a select committee this morning to submit the Trust's views on a proposed toughening up of bail laws.

Mr Franks thinks young offenders should have to prove why they should get bail, rather than the onus being on the prosecution to do so.

"The idea of treating young offenders with kid gloves is actually the wrong way to reduce your long term crime rate because crime rates don't change much after people have developed a pattern."

MPs were also told by Mr Franks judges are "squeamish" when it comes to being tough on bail and parliament should provide more direction.