Police heavy on checking bailed Aboriginal youth: group
Young Indigenous people were 11.7 per cent more likely to be checked by police than non-Indigenous youth, according to an analysis of bail compliance checks data in NSW commissioned by the Justice and Equity Centre.
Among those checked, Aboriginal young people were subjected to 42 per cent more checks on average than non-Aboriginal young people, the analysis shows.
The legal group has taken NSW Police to the Human Rights Commission over alleged racial discrimination towards two Aboriginal brothers.
One of the boys, aged 11, was bail-checked 101 times over seven months as he awaited trial for being a passenger in a stolen car, the group says, with 20 of those checks made in a single month.
A senior solicitor at the Justice and Equity Centre said she was concerned police are misusing their powers "to unfairly surveil" young and already over-policed children and their communities.
"It's unacceptable that Aboriginal families feel intimidated by police pounding on doors and shining torches through windows in the middle of the night without good reason," Grace Gooley said on Tuesday.
"Courts, not police, should make decisions about when to disrupt a household with intrusive checking of young people on bail."
The report, co-authored by former crime stats chief Don Weatherburn, used police data on bail checks on young people in their first 30 days of bail when subject to a bail condition.
Nearly one in eight Indigenous children were checked 12 or more times, compared to about one in 20 non-Aboriginal young people, the report said.
Data from the report will be presented in the two brothers' racial discrimination case.
Bail checks are unlawful unless police have court authorisation or reasonable suspicion of a breach, but the Justice and Equity Centre says police are conducting excessive bail checks because offenders are Indigenous.
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission savaged the police in a scathing report in April for stretching their authority and powers by relying on a weak legal principle to conduct bail compliance checks.
The state watchdog said that leaves the force open to complaints and claims of trespass if a resident revokes an officer's "implied licence" to enter the property.
In its submission to the commission, NSW Police said it did not accept the watchdog's view the force has been acting "unreasonably".
Each year, police officers in NSW conduct more than 100,000 bail compliance checks.
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West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
'Third world conditions' in packed Top End watch houses
Detainees crammed into cells, unable to shower or brush their teeth for days on end and denied toilet privacy. Legal advocates say an overcrowding crisis in Northern Territory prisons and watch houses is prompting constant lockdowns and making it unsafe for detainees denied basic human rights and forced to accept "third world conditions". It's claimed Aboriginal children as young as 11 have been held at Palmerston Watch House, south of Darwin, and that cells there have at times been jammed with up to 17 people, with frequent cases of self harm occurring. Detainees report having to use toilets in front of others, make do with limited sanitary products, sleep under bloodied blankets and go without medication for epilepsy and other conditions. The NT police union is concerned watch house conditions are making it dangerous for both officers and detainees. Territory barrister Lyma Nguyen says the "appalling" situation reflects a justice system that appears to be breaking down. The Country Liberal Party government has been pushing through a tough-on-crime agenda, including harsher bail conditions designed to send more people to the cells to await court cases. It is unapologetic about favouring victims over offenders and has been rolling out hundreds more beds in prisons and hiring more guards to cope with the influx. But until prison capacity catches up, watch houses are often crammed and lockdowns are constant, largely due to lack of staff. "I defend many people in criminal cases who are arrested and held at watch houses over weekends before they are brought to court to see a judge," Ms Nguyen tells AAP. Some clients then find out in court on a Monday their paperwork is not ready or there are too many cases to hear that day so they are sent back to the watch house, she says. "So people are held in custody for longer than necessary in really appalling conditions; I'm told there are often 17 people to a cell." Ms Nguyen says one of her clients was in Palmerston Watch House for five days without an opportunity to shower or brush his teeth despite his family bringing him fresh clothes and supplies. The circumstances are arguably worse than in some prisons in Third World countries, she says, suggesting United Nations scrutiny of the issue is needed. Her clients who have spent time behind bars in Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia have reinforced this. Constant lockdowns mean lawyers are often barred from seeing clients, a breach of the international right to representation, Ms Nguyen says. "This would not happen in the bigger states, especially states that have a bill of human rights", she adds. NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo says comments by the police association and Aboriginal justice agency make it clear Palmerston Watch House is unsafe for officers and those held there. A request for Labor MPs to visit the facility has yet to be granted, she says. "I understand police have changed their shifts and changed the way they look after the Palmerston Watch House so they can deal and cope with that extra pressure," Ms Uibo recently told reporters. NT Police Association president Nathan Finn agrees the facility has reached "crisis point", putting officers, prisoners and the broader community at "unacceptable risk". "The CLP government has made repeated promises to stop using police facilities for correctional purposes, yet the Palmerston Watch House is now overflowing," he says. "It's not a matter of if but when a serious custody incident occurs. "This government continues to beat its chest about locking up more offenders but it has utterly failed to plan for the consequences of its own policies." Mr Finn says police are exhausted, burnt out and being called in on overtime just to maintain basic safety. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency recently highlighted the case of an 11-year-old girl held at Palmerston with "adults in surrounding cells screaming, yelling". The agency described that as a "breach of human rights" when children taken into custody should be transferred to a youth detention centre as soon as possible under court order. Police data recently released to the ABC under freedom of information laws show 19 cases of children self-harming over six months at watch houses in Palmerston, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine. The youngest of the teens to self-harm was 13, while there were five cases featuring 14-year-olds and all but one matter involved an Indigenous teen. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who is also police minister, stands by authorities using watch houses to process youths taken into custody. She's told ABC Radio they employ "a lot of oversight and controls and policies and procedures" and she considers them "very safe places". The territory's police force similarly says they are managed within a strict framework that provides guidance on the care and treatment of persons in custody. "The primary consideration in relation to people in police custody is the safety and welfare of the individual," it says. Corrections Minister Gerard Maley has acknowledged the pressures at Palmerston but says his department is working as quickly as possible to get more beds online. He says the government is also easing the load on police and corrections officers by contracting private service provider G4S to take on prisoner transport and custody services.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Third world conditions' in packed Top End watch houses
Detainees crammed into cells, unable to shower or brush their teeth for days on end and denied toilet privacy. Legal advocates say an overcrowding crisis in Northern Territory prisons and watch houses is prompting constant lockdowns and making it unsafe for detainees denied basic human rights and forced to accept "third world conditions". It's claimed Aboriginal children as young as 11 have been held at Palmerston Watch House, south of Darwin, and that cells there have at times been jammed with up to 17 people, with frequent cases of self harm occurring. Detainees report having to use toilets in front of others, make do with limited sanitary products, sleep under bloodied blankets and go without medication for epilepsy and other conditions. The NT police union is concerned watch house conditions are making it dangerous for both officers and detainees. Territory barrister Lyma Nguyen says the "appalling" situation reflects a justice system that appears to be breaking down. The Country Liberal Party government has been pushing through a tough-on-crime agenda, including harsher bail conditions designed to send more people to the cells to await court cases. It is unapologetic about favouring victims over offenders and has been rolling out hundreds more beds in prisons and hiring more guards to cope with the influx. But until prison capacity catches up, watch houses are often crammed and lockdowns are constant, largely due to lack of staff. "I defend many people in criminal cases who are arrested and held at watch houses over weekends before they are brought to court to see a judge," Ms Nguyen tells AAP. Some clients then find out in court on a Monday their paperwork is not ready or there are too many cases to hear that day so they are sent back to the watch house, she says. "So people are held in custody for longer than necessary in really appalling conditions; I'm told there are often 17 people to a cell." Ms Nguyen says one of her clients was in Palmerston Watch House for five days without an opportunity to shower or brush his teeth despite his family bringing him fresh clothes and supplies. The circumstances are arguably worse than in some prisons in Third World countries, she says, suggesting United Nations scrutiny of the issue is needed. Her clients who have spent time behind bars in Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia have reinforced this. Constant lockdowns mean lawyers are often barred from seeing clients, a breach of the international right to representation, Ms Nguyen says. "This would not happen in the bigger states, especially states that have a bill of human rights", she adds. NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo says comments by the police association and Aboriginal justice agency make it clear Palmerston Watch House is unsafe for officers and those held there. A request for Labor MPs to visit the facility has yet to be granted, she says. "I understand police have changed their shifts and changed the way they look after the Palmerston Watch House so they can deal and cope with that extra pressure," Ms Uibo recently told reporters. NT Police Association president Nathan Finn agrees the facility has reached "crisis point", putting officers, prisoners and the broader community at "unacceptable risk". "The CLP government has made repeated promises to stop using police facilities for correctional purposes, yet the Palmerston Watch House is now overflowing," he says. "It's not a matter of if but when a serious custody incident occurs. "This government continues to beat its chest about locking up more offenders but it has utterly failed to plan for the consequences of its own policies." Mr Finn says police are exhausted, burnt out and being called in on overtime just to maintain basic safety. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency recently highlighted the case of an 11-year-old girl held at Palmerston with "adults in surrounding cells screaming, yelling". The agency described that as a "breach of human rights" when children taken into custody should be transferred to a youth detention centre as soon as possible under court order. Police data recently released to the ABC under freedom of information laws show 19 cases of children self-harming over six months at watch houses in Palmerston, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine. The youngest of the teens to self-harm was 13, while there were five cases featuring 14-year-olds and all but one matter involved an Indigenous teen. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who is also police minister, stands by authorities using watch houses to process youths taken into custody. She's told ABC Radio they employ "a lot of oversight and controls and policies and procedures" and she considers them "very safe places". The territory's police force similarly says they are managed within a strict framework that provides guidance on the care and treatment of persons in custody. "The primary consideration in relation to people in police custody is the safety and welfare of the individual," it says. Corrections Minister Gerard Maley has acknowledged the pressures at Palmerston but says his department is working as quickly as possible to get more beds online. He says the government is also easing the load on police and corrections officers by contracting private service provider G4S to take on prisoner transport and custody services.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Top jockey stood down as disturbing video of Noel Callow racially abusing Indigenous man emerges
WARNING: This article contains offensive language Group 1-winning jockey Noel Callow has been charged by racing stewards and stood down from riding after a disturbing video emerged of him ridiculing an Indigenous man. On Friday, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission charged the controversial jockey with two charges of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing, after a video of the 50-year-old, recorded in Darwin last year, surfaced online in which he filmed himself racially abusing Indigenous people. The video shows Callow striking up a conversation with an Aboriginal man he passed on the street, offering him some pizza, before the seemingly friendly conversation turned offensive. 'What's doing, crackers?' Callow says, before asking, 'Have you showered? F*** you stink like f***.' You can watch the video in the player above The man says back, 'Nah, I haven't got a job (inaudible).' 'You stink like f***. Have some pizza. Take the pizza. Eat. Eat the pizza,' Callow continues. 'I don't want to eat,' the man responded. 'Have a shower then, do me a favour. Have a shower. You stink like f***,' Callow said. The chat continues. Man: '(inaudible) I sleep on the street.' Callow: 'So you don't want a pizza … what do you want?' Man: 'I want a beer.' Callow: 'You want a beer … if you have a shower, I'll buy you a beer.' Man: '(inaudible) I don't have a shower. There's no shower in the friggin area.' Callow: 'Well, jump in the f---ing creek … for f--- sake man.' And acting swiftly on Friday evening, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) stood the veteran hoop down effective immediately. 'The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has today convened a Stewards' Inquiry and issued two charges under Australian Rule of Racing AR 228(a) against licensed jockey Mr Noel Callow,' a QRIC statement reads. 'The charges relate to conduct alleged to have occurred approximately one year ago while Mr Callow was not riding at, or attending, a race meeting and was not at any racecourse. 'It is alleged Mr Callow engaged in conduct prejudicial to the image of racing. 'Acting under AR 23(a), the Stewards have suspended Mr Callow's jockey licence in full, pending the outcome of the inquiry. Mr Callow has been informed of his right of appeal in respect of this decision. 'QRIC takes matters concerning conduct, welfare, and integrity seriously and will continue to ensure all participants are held to the highest professional and behavioural standards.' Callow – with five Group 1s to his name in Australia – had only just returned to riding after being banned for a physical altercation with fellow Group 1 winning jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor in the jockeys' room during a race meeting in the Queensland winter carnival. After more than two months out of the saddle, Callow made a winning return to racing this week when riding Stormfront to victory in Darwin for Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl.
