Police Accountability
Systemic racism impacts Aboriginal communities on a daily basis. Manifesting in ways where we see Aboriginal people over-policed, over-represented in police custody and under-served when they need assistance from police.
Victoria’s police oversight system falls drastically short – police investigating themselves will never deliver real accountability. In 2020-2021, 94.3% of complaints against police were investigated by Victoria police themselves or not investigated at all. Despite facing higher rates of police misconduct, Aboriginal people are less likely to make a formal complaint.
Our communities have no faith in the police complaints system – they know the system is broken.
A fully functioning police oversight system requires:
• A new independent police complaints body that
provides thorough, culturally appropriate and independent investigation of all complaints, other than customer service matters;
• Independent and culturally appropriate investigation of police contact deaths, both for coronial processes and in determining if a criminal or disciplinary offence has been committed;
• Independent monitoring and auditing of the exercise of police powers, supported by transparent record-keeping and reporting by Victoria police;
• Independent oversight of police places of detention, in compliance with OPCAT;
• Accountability for implementing recommendations relating to police, from coronial inquests, police complaints investigations, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC), and other commissions and inquiries.
Did you know we have a Police and Prison Accountability Practice?
Our Wirraway Practice at VALS assists clients in police and prison accountability matters. We seek to champion the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to challenge abuses of power by police and prisons. Through this work, we hope to ensure greater accountability of police and prisons for the harm they cause Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
Learn more about our Wirraway Practice