Done By Law

Fatal mistake? VicPolice taser trials: 27 March 2010

In February this year Victoria Police announced a trial of taser stun guns in Bendigo and Morwell. The trial will start in July 2010 and run for a year. Currently, only two specialist police units, the Special Operations Group and Critical Incident Response Teams, part of the Force Response Unit are authorised to use tasers. Previously both former Police Commissioner Nixon and current Commissioner Overland had ruled out the expansion of tasers to general duty police. Therefore this trial represents a signifcant shift in the manner in which police can deploy force.

In 2009 an Office of Police Integrity report which investigated Victoria Police’s use of force recommended that officers not be given taser stun guns. There are substantial dangers that tasers can kill or harm if used on vulnerable groups, such a young people, people with heart conditions, people experiecing mental illness, or if the taser is used in particular ways. The data suggests around 73% of taser use in Victoria was against people in mental health crises and that 85% of subjects were affected by prescription or illegal drugs. Evidence from overseas and increasingly from Australia suggests that tasers are prone to misuse. 

Done By Law discusses these trials with Emma Ryan, a Monash University lecturer and PhD researcher.

Local Law 8 Repealed or Not?

On November 24th last year Done by Law spoke to Fitzroy Indigenous elders about Local Law 8 - a Yarra city council provision intended to ban public drinking, listen to the show here.

Last week Yarra Council repealed the law at a special council meeting addressed by a number of prominent Indigenous leaders in the area.  The following day, the council reinstated the law on a technicality.

Meghan Fitzgerald from Fitzroy Legal Service joined us to talk about whats happening with the law, and what some of the provision’s effects have been.

DBL 24 Nov: Local indigenous leaders speak out against local law 8

Last month on Done By Law, we examined the recent decision by Yarra Council to place a ban on public drinking through the introduction of Local Law 8, which will give police the power to pour out opened drinks and issue on the spot fines of $100.

This week we speak to three Indigenous leaders from Collingwood about what impact they think the laws will have, and how they intend to fight these provisions (see our news section for the details).

We also speak to Fitzroy Legal Service advocate Meghan Fitzgerald about new laws being introduced to give police the power to move people on.

Rachel Herzing at the Imprisoned People and Social Justice Forum

Two weeks ago, the Imprisoned People and Social Justice Forum was held at the Koori Heritage Trust down on King Street.

The forum was organised by the Decarceration Working Group, with support and collaboration from Flat Out, Sisters Inside, the Centre for the Human Rights of Imprisoned People and the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Service.

The day aimed to facilitate discussions on systemic issues in imprisonment, strategies for decarceration and social justice for imprisoned men and women in Victoria, with input from national and international speakers including formerly imprisoned people.

Rachel Herzing, an activist from the US with almost 20 years of organising experience, came to the forum and gave a talk about the work and politics of two US prison abolitionist organisations: Critical Resistance and Creative Interventions.

Watching the Detectives: DBL 28 April 2009

Tonight on Done By Law we take a look at police accountability. We hear a live recording of Flemington resident Ahmed Dini, speaking to a forum at Flemington Community Centre about his experiences with police on the Flemington housing estate. We also chat to Musicians Against Police Violence about an upcoming benefit gig for Fitzroy Legal Service.

For a  comprehensive look at what makes an effective police complaints system, download a copy of a report by Tamar Hopkins from Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre.

Done By Law is broadcast on 3CR 855AM (Melbourne, Australia) on Tuesdays at 6PM.

musicians against police violence (MAPV)

MAPV are holding a benefit gig on 28 February in Melbourne at Ding Dong Lounge. Featuring bands such as Bellusira, Ezekiel Ox & the Fury, Fading Hour and Joelistics (TZU), all money raised will go directly to Lex Wotton’s family. Lex is an indigenous man currently serving 6 years jail for ‘rioting with destruction’ on Queensland’s Palm Island, after the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee in 2004. A subsequent coronial inquest found that Snr Sgt Hurley was responsible for the death. It also uncovered numerous breaches of procedures by Queensland Police in the ensuing investigation. Snr Sgt Hurley has since received a promotion and a $100,000 compensation payout from the Queensland Government.

To find out more, check out MAPV’s website.

AMCRAN releases 3rd edition of “Anti-Terror Laws: ASIO, The Police and You”

The Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network has released the third edition of its booklet, Anti-Terror Laws: ASIO, The Police and You. The booklet answers general questions about the anti-terrorism laws that have been introduced in Australia since 2001, including the terrorism offences, the extended powers and functions of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), as well as information on control orders, preventative detention, and the sedition offences.

It is available in four languages: English, Arabic, Indonesian (Bahasa) and Urdu.

Download a copy of Anti-Terror Laws: ASIO, The Police and You here.

FEATURE: Should the Victorian Police be using tasers?

Done By Law speaks to Emma Ryan, a PHD student who specialises in the use of “tasers” around the world and by the Victorian Police. We examine exactly how a taser works, and its consequences for people incapacitated by the weapon. We find out which Police are using tasers around the country. We look at instances where tasers have amounted to lethal force and consider how tasers may impact on policing more generally.

Complaint re Misuse of Emergency powers by NSW police

The Climate Camp Legal Support Team have lodged a complaint with the NSW Ombudsman about the inappropriate use of emergency “anti-riot” powers against Climate Camp protesters in Newcastle in July 2008.

The Climate Camp Legal Support Team is a collective (composed of lawyers, law students and volunteers) formed to provide legal information and support to protesters engaged in actions over the 10-15 July 2008 Climate Camp in Newcastle NSW.

The complaint was lodged against the the decision on 13 July 2008 to authorise the use of Emergency powers under the Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibilities Act 2002 against Climate Camp protesters as well as to complain about the policing strategies adopted by the NSW Riot Squad during the event.

See the link below for more information or contact the NSW Wales Environmental Defenders Office.

Complaint regarding misuse of police powers at climate camp.