Policing and detention
Media and commentary related to our work to provide critical oversight of NSW Police, prisons and youth detention centres, to protect human rights and ensure fair and lawful treatment.
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Police must act to close the gap: LECC report highlights discriminatory policing
A new report from police oversight body the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) emphasises that NSW Police need to do more to reduce the stark overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in contact with the criminal justice system. The NSW Police Force Aboriginal Strategic Direction 2018-2023 monitoring report highlights several areas where NSW Police have failed to…
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2SER: Reforming responses to the mental health crisis
Recent incidents have highlighted the lethal consequences of police responses to mental health crisis, with four fatal incidents in the last four months. Each of the four deaths occurred during interactions with NSW Police. The most recent was the case of Krista Kach, who was tasered and shot with bean bag rounds after police were…
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‘Bullet to the heart’: Grieving parents call for mental health role in police response
This week a letter signed by more than 80 of the state’s most respected advocates, obtained by the Herald, will ask Premier Chris Minns to urgently fund mental health workers to join police on the frontline. Camilla Pandolfini, Redfern Legal Centre CEO and a signatory to the letter, told the Herald “mental health is a health issue that…
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Legal Academics, experts, and advocates issue an open letter urging the NSW Government to implement mental health policing reforms.
Legal Academics, legal experts, and social justice advocates representing community legal centres, legal services and organisations, law faculties, and advocacy groups have collectively signed an open letter (PDF on Redfern Legal Centre website) calling on the NSW Government to fund trained mental health experts as first responders to mental health crises. Among the 85-plus signatories…
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Freedom of information win exposes need for reform
We supported a client to get access to information held by the government, using freedom of information processes.
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Joint letter to Queensland Government regarding suspension of Human Rights Act
PIAC joined Change The Record and more than 180 human rights and legal experts, social justice organisations and First Nations community groups in signing an open letter condemning the Queensland government for overriding the state’s Human Rights Act in order to detain children in state police watch houses indefinitely. Dear Premier Palaszczuk and Minister Ryan,…
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Jailbaby urges justice reform
PIAC was thrilled to host a special performance of Jailbaby and conversation with award-winning playwright Suzie Miller at Griffin Theatre Company recently. Jailbaby tells the story of two young Australian men, Seth and AJ, treated unequally by the institutions they come up against because of their different backgrounds . The play details how class and…
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AHRC highlights serious health concerns for people in hotel detention
A recent Australian Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) report highlights ongoing concerns about the use of hotels as Alternative Places of Detention (‘APODs’) within Australia’s immigration detention system. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (‘PIAC’) welcomes the report, which aligns with recommendations we have made since launching our Asylum Seeker Health Rights Project in 2016. The…
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2SER: Calling for investigation of heavy handed Covid fines
PIAC and Redfern Legal Centre have filed a complaint against the former NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller and NSW Police, over what they say was a heavy-handed approach to handing out fines during the Covid pandemic. The complaint was lodged with the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and asked it to investigate directives given by the…
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Aboriginal elders support investigation into policing of COVID-19 fines in Walgett
… The Redfern Legal Centre and Public Interest Advocacy Centre has lodged a formal complaint with the police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, to investigate the actions of police and whether they constituted serious maladministration or misconduct. Dharriwaa Elders Group secretary Virginia Robinson supported an investigation into what she said could have long-term consequences for her…