Aboriginal-Police Relations in Redfern: With Special Reference to the Police Raid of 8 February 1990

• NCJ Number: 139988
• Author(s): C Cunneen
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 41 pages
• Corporate Author: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Cmssn
• Sale Source: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Cmssn
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This analysis of policing and citizen against the police in the Redfern Aboriginal community in Australia concludes that the police have often used excessive force and have discriminated against Aborigines and that reforms are therefore needed.

Abstract

Citizen complaints regarding police practices in Redfern date back at least to 1970. In 1989 and in the raid conducted in 1990, the police clearly used excessive force. The Aboriginal-Police Liaison Officers were not informed about these major policing operations, and their advice has been ignored. This undermining of their functions points to the need for a departmental review of the role, status, and authority of these liaison officers. The National Inquiry Into Racist Violence should also seek a departmental review of the role of the Tactical Response Group in Aboriginal communities, with emphasis on their apparent reliance on excessive force.