Yesterday, The Age reported on an innocent Aboriginal teenager who was arrested and thrown into a fence. The victim was charged with assaulting police, until a court forced them to reveal notes admitting they thought he was the wrong guy, and “did not see it necessary in any way to use force.” Today, this: another cop “caught on CCTV repeatedly slapping a drunk disability pensioner before hurling him to the ground and knocking him out, leaving the man with ongoing injuries.” The sergeant was convicted of assault, but after a paid suspension — a bonus holiday — he returned to work. The Police Accountability Project is demanding an independent body to handle complaints against police.
21 January 2019