Greens Demand Probe Into Police Misconduct
A disturbing pattern of incidents involving inappropriate behaviour and racism justify a more transparent process for investigation and reporting of police misconduct, says Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury.
Following a line of questioning in Budget Estimates, ACT Police and the Minister for Police could not provide or disclose details of the consequences for the officers involved in these incidents, citing secrecy and privacy provisions.
As stated by Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury:
“The reality is that there’s a deeply concerning pattern of systemic behaviour from elements of ACT Police towards First Nations people in this territory. From officers goading children in custody to take their own lives, to young men being charged with an offence when they shouldn’t have been during a night out-we’re seeing a serious problem with police integrity.
“It’s horrifying that some officers feel it’s acceptable to taunt children in their custody-people going through hard moments in their lives-about suicide or the family situations that led them to that moment.
“This kind of policing is seemingly so entrenched that First Nations mothers in our community are teaching their kids to keep a low profile in public just to avoid being targeted by police for simply occupying space.
“These parents are fearful that even when their children are doing nothing wrong, just hanging out with a group of their cousins, they’ll be singled out and targeted by some police-it’s appalling and needs urgent attention.
“Right now, when police engage in problematic behaviour, the investigation happens behind closed doors, investigated by their own. Now in fairness, this might be okay if things were improving-but incident after incident certainly suggests they are not.
“A system that lets police investigate themselves while this behaviour continues is a system that protects and entrenches racism, not people. It’s unacceptable. And after months and years of similar incidents, it’s clear we need far more transparency around the outcomes of police misconduct investigations.
“The Greens are calling on the government to address this broken system-one that enables racism and offers those who perpetuate it anonymity. This isn’t about every officer. But unless we hold those who abuse their power accountable, then the public will rightly continue to struggle to have confidence in the system as a whole.”
The Greens are calling on the government to improve how investigations into police misconduct are conducted which must include increasing transparency into the outcomes of investigations to enhance community trust in the police.
A report into the conduct of the Australian Federal Police recently found that the agency is dismissing complaints that should be investigated, including allegations of corruption and assault within its own ranks.
Comments provided by Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service:
Ms Julie Tongs, CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service, has emphasised the importance of investigating the nature of the relationship between ACT Policing and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community during Estimates hearings.
She is particularly concerned about a raft of findings in the recent report of the Commonwealth Ombudsman into the use of force by ACT Policing.
As the Ombudsman noted in his report the misuse of force by police has the potential to disproportionately impact vulnerable members of the community, such as First Nations people. Julie Tongs said while shameful, it is also relevant to any inquiry into the relationship between ACT Policing and the Aboriginal community of Canberra that the ACT has both the highest rate of incarceration of Aboriginal peoples in Australia and the highest rate of Aboriginal recidivism.
As stated by Chairperson of Sisters in Spirit Aboriginal Corporation, Ms Tahlia-Rose Vanissum:
“Indigenous women are the fastest growing prison population in the world. In the ACT our women are imprisoned at a 76.5 times greater rate than non-Indigenous woman. The highest level of overrepresentation in Australia.
“Strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are critical safeguards in our communities, keeping us safe, healthy and connected to culture, especially our children.
“Failure to address their needs has impacts on our entire community including increased rates of victimisation, criminalisation, child removal and homelessness.
“The current ACT justice system subjects our women to unique forms of intersectional discrimination, they are over-policed, under-protected, and ‘misidentified’ (targeted) by colonial enforcement agencies built on the principles of erasure and control.
“Police cannot be trusted to investigate themselves and they cannot be trusted by our communities to lead reform they actively resist.”
https://greens.org.au/act/news/media-release/greens-call-transparent-investigations-police-misconduct-following-incidents