Arson and fire-setting offences constitute crimes 'involving an element of violence' for the purposes of dangerous criminal declarations under s 392 of the Criminal Code 1924 (Tas) where they entail deliberate damage to property coupled with an obvious and substantial risk of direct injury to other persons, even where no person has actually been injured. The 'element of violence' need not be a constituent element of the offence and need not involve force or threats directed at a person.
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