Done By Law

Community Round-Table on Police Related Issues

You are invited to attend a special Roundtable meeting on Thursday 18th
February to be held at Maysar in Fitzroy.

The Roundtable aims to provide an opportunity for our many groups to share
information and explore opportunities for collaboration on tactics,
strategies and campaigns on police-related issues in Victoria.

You will be aware that, despite lobbying and campaigning, Victoria passed
new search, move on and public drunkenness powers passed into law in 2009.
You will also be aware that three deaths in police custody occurred in
December 2009 and that in each case, it is the police who are
investigating these deaths. You will also be aware that that Victoria
Police is failing to adequately train its members in safety first and
de-escalation principles and that police brutality against people
including women and children continues in this State. You will also be
aware of increasing incarceration rates of Indigenous and migrant youth
and the failure of the police (and government) to acknowledge the racist
attacks that are occuring against Indian, Sudanese and other people of
colour.

All of us are working on the collective tragedy of a State Government and
police force which is doing nothing to realistically to end racism, deaths
in police custody, stop police assaults on Indigenous, Migrant, homeless
and mentally ill people and where the evidence of the failure in police
accountability is available in numerous official reports.

In order in increase our individual and collective capacity to creatively
and effectively work and mobilise on these issues, Melbourne Copwatch
invites you to a community roundtable to explore opportunities for
collaboration and share information about the vital work we are all doing.

We ask that you send one or more of your members to the Community
roundtable which we propose will operate as Spokescouncil. We are grateful
to Anthony Kelly for agreeing to faciliate this event.

The Community Roundtable will be at Maysar 184-186 Gertrude St Fitzroy
between 6-8pm on Thursday 18 February 2010.

Please bring information about your organisation and information on the
campaigns you are working on to share with others.

To obtain further information, to RSVP or to join Melbourne Copwatch,
please contact Melbourne.Copwatch@gmail.com

Copwatch acknowledges the Wurundjeri, the traditional owners of this
country and is grateful to the Melbourne Aboriginal Youth, Sport and
Recreation Centre for donating the space for this event.