Andrews must act to ensure Victorians have a police force they can trust
Shocking stories of police brutally show the need for immediate action by the Andrews Government to provide Victoria’s police corruption watchdog (IBAC) the power and tools it needs to independently investigate serious police misconduct, so that police are not investigating their own.
Media stories continue to reveal systemic problems and a lack of accountability within Victoria Police amidst reports that the Andrews Government is also blocking his own Minister’s request to increase powers for the watchdog charged with investigating serious cases of police misconduct.
Reports of horrific police abuse over the past 48 hours include:
A Warnambool man who became a paraplegic from being handcuffed and dragged along his lawn after the police were called due to his music being too loud.
A Melbourne man who suffered a dislocated shoulder from being thrown to the ground after police mistakenly raided the Hares and Hyenas LGBTIQ bookshop.
An Aboriginal man who was brutally attacked and injured by counter-terrorism police officers.
Nik Dimopolous, who suffered the dislocated shoulder injury after police mistakenly raided the Hares and Hyenas bookshop, said:
“I have spent most of this year trying to recover from the incident with police and now live with pain on a daily basis. I still don’t understand why police treated me so badly. I think that those involved should be closely investigated. I really just hope that lessons are learned by the police so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Jeremy King, Principal, Robinson Gill Lawyers, who is acting for the three men, said:
“Victorians deserve a police force that they can trust. The Andrews Government must commit to giving the Victorian police corruption watchdog the resources and powers it needs to independently investigate serious police misconduct. The status quo of police investigating police simply results in impunity. Police should not be above the law.”
Nerita Waight, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, said:
“Aboriginal communities in Victoria continue to suffer from the broken police investigation system where police investigate police. Every day of inaction and delay in implementing reform is another day of the same appalling outcomes for Aboriginal communities. The Victorian Government must urgently resource the independent police complaints body to restore community faith in our police.”
Ruth Barson, Legal Director, Human Rights Law Centre, said:
“Police should not be investigating police, it’s as simple as that. Victoria has a police corruption watchdog, but the Andrews Government has so far refused to give it the power and tools it needs to independently investigate all instances of serious police misconduct. The consequence is people like Nick can get seriously hurt and police can get away with it.”
Anthony Kelly, Executive Officer, Police Accountability Project, said:
“It's the Government's responsibility to ensure that Victoria Police is accountable. The public interest is clear and it is deeply concerning that the Government has not acted on this earlier. There are no more excuses to delay a system that will improve police practices, reduce corruption, protect human rights and help keep Victorians safe.”
Media contact: Michelle Bennett, Human Rights Law Centre: 0419 100 519
Note: Nik Dimopolous will not be giving further comment.