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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Mothers sue police over months of disruptive and intimidating home visits
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is representing Megan* and Joanne*, two mothers suing NSW Police following months of disruptive and intimidating visits to their homes. PIAC has filed cases for both women in the NSW Supreme Court, asking the Court to decide if the visits were a misuse of power and amount to trespass.…
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The Australian: Open letters from top lawyers, advocacy groups and academics say NSW youth bail laws will increase crime
A combined 68 lawyers, academics and advocacy groups say proposed reforms will only increase crime and devastate Aboriginal and vulnerable communities.
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NSW Indigenous groups warn of danger posed by harsh bail laws for children
On Monday, a coalition of 12 groups including the ALS, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and NSW Aboriginal Land Council revealed that multiple government sources had “indicated off the record that a proposal to introduce punitive law and order measures – including changes to bail laws that will result in more children going to jail…
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Minns warned against ‘political stunt’ to fix regional youth crime
Premier Chris Minns made a last-minute trip to Moree last month amid concerns about serious property crime being committed predominantly by young people. Minns has committed to a regional crime package and the Police Minister Yasmin Catley has also acknowledged a worsening problem in regional NSW. A range of groups – which include the Aboriginal…
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Aboriginal and legal groups horrified at secret plan to throw more children in jail
A coalition of Aboriginal and legal organisations says a secret proposal to tighten NSW bail laws for children would make NSW regional communities more dangerous. Multiple government sources have indicated off the record that a proposal to introduce punitive law and order measures – including changes to bail laws that will result in more children…
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NSW Police fall short in response to consorting laws criticisms
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has published NSW Police Force responses to recommendations made in the LECC’s review of consorting laws. The LECC review showed the laws are largely not being used to disrupt the serious, organised crime for which they were intended but are being misused, including against people under the age of…
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UN committee report slams Australia’s ‘inhuman’ prisons
Australia’s prison and detention practices are inhuman, degrading and in some cases may amount to torture, a United Nations report has found. The UN has delivered a scathing assessment of Australia’s treatment of prisoners, immigration detainees and juvenile offenders, despite attempts to block inspectors from local facilities. … Public Interest Advocacy Centre principal solicitor Jonathan…
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PIAC responds to scathing UN subcommittee report on Australian detention
The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (‘SPT’) visited Australia in October 2022 to investigate Australia’s compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The SPT visited 6 prisons, 3 youth detention centres, 5…
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Canberra Times: Police bin unjust surveillance amid ‘bombshell’ report
Comments from CEO Jonathon Hunyor featured in the Canberra Times.
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Unreasonable, unjust, oppressive and improperly discriminatory: watchdog blasts police on STMP
A scathing report from the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) says NSW Police use of the Suspect Targeting Management Plan (STMP) against young people ‘amounted to agency maladministration’ and ‘could possibly meet the threshold for serious misconduct’. It recognises the STMP policy followed by police was unreasonable, unjust, oppressive and improperly discriminatory in its effect…