'Racist police' targeted Africans

15 Mar 2010, 7:23 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Victorian police have been accused of elements of racism in the force.

Victorian police have been accused of elements of racism in the force.

African youths have been racially targeted, taunted and bashed by police across Melbourne, according to an explosive report, as Victoria's police struggle to regain pubic confidence after attacks on Indian students.

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African youths have been racially targeted, taunted and bashed by police across Melbourne, according to an explosive and scathing report, as Victoria's police struggle to regain pubic confidence after a series of attacks on Indian students.

Victoria Police officers are accused of labelling young African men "monkey" and "black c***", taking photographs of them gathered on the streets for intelligence purposes and, in one case, taking off their uniforms to bash black men in a public park.

Police routinely target young Africans by repeatedly arresting and questioning them about crimes, the report by a legal service says, and demand youths give their names and addresses to officers several times each day.

Increased searches

When young Africans complain, front-line officers increase random searches and questioning, the report says.

"It's horrible, humiliating," says Aran Brown, an 18-year-old African refugee who says he has experienced discrimination in Melbourne.

Police have randomly pulled him off the street and questioned him about break-ins and drug activity, he says, so he now runs away when he sees an officer.

The last time he ran, a police officer followed him.

'Who to complain to?'

"He started chasing me and when he caught up to me he said: `Wogs are faster than niggers'," the teenager told AAP near his home in a high-rise housing commission flat in Flemington on Monday.

"If a cop can say that to me, who can I complain to? What do you do when it's the police who are harassing you?"

Mr Brown's account of his experiences match those compiled for the damning 35-page report, to be released to the public on Thursday.

Written by the Springvale Monash Legal Service, the report focuses on Melbourne suburbs with high African populations - Flemington, Dandenong and Braybrook.

Community input

Thirty young Africans and eight community workers were interviewed for the report, which also compiled information gathered from community service workers over the past 15 months.

Helen Yandell, the legal service's director, says it took months to convince African youths to come forward with their stories. Many have lost faith in the police force and fear retribution, she says.

"We're talking about three major areas where young people live," she told AAP.

"It, therefore, has to be looked at as a systematic failure rather than the actions of a few bad cops."

Police 'must acknowlege racist elements'

In one 2009 incident included in the report, police asked a group of young Africans to leave a public space, she said.

The group refused. The officers eventually left, but allegedly returned later, but they were not wearing their uniforms and began assaulting them, the report said.

Police must admit there is a racist element among its ranks, she said.

Allegations 'disappointing'

A Victoria Police statement said the force was "disappointed" by the allegations.

The statement says officers work tirelessly to build relationships and trust among African communities.

"Victoria Police expects its members to take a fair and professional approach when policing the community," the statement says.

"Our key focus is on crime, not specific cultural groups. We have various checks and balances in place to ensure the conduct of our members is appropriate."

The report will recommend that officers are trained in de-escalating conflict and call for an improved complaints procedure so Africans can come forward without fear of retribution.

Situation 'slightly improved'

Berhan Ahmed, chairman of the African Think Tank, said the situation had improved since 2007 when Sudanese refugee Liep Gony was fatally bashed in Noble Park.

"It was really bad back then. But we've since been working to improve our relationship," he said.

"I can't say we've done everything, but without a doubt there has been progress."

Victorian police have also been accused of failing to take attacks on Indian students seriously, with some in the community claiming the slow response was due to racism.
 

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Your Comments

Miss

Sodindo - from Perth, 6 months ago

what haven't we seen? This is not a battle for mortals, it is a case for God almighty to fix. The bible says that God created mankind in his own likeness. I pray that God shows mercy to the people who suppress fellow human beings. All shall come to pass and we will all stand equal in front of God on judgement day. Bitterness about being discriminated is only a hazard to our health, lets hand it over to God the only one with the power to decide who lives and who dies.

Pulled by a Cop in South Australia

Marco - from Sydney NSW, 1 year

In Adelaide at Henly Beach road I was on my way home well dressed and presented and suddenly this police car stops in front of me and a hard headed white cop with a tattoo on his right arm comes out questioning me as to what am I doing past 12am on the street demanding I present my ID and emptying all my pockets and open my pants belt and twist the front of it n case Im hiding something. When I asked him why all this huge embarrasent to me being a visitor in South Australia he replied Do not ask

not only them but others more

unknown - from Australia, 2 years ago

not long before this incidednt a chinese person died in the care of police. that is if the police care in any form. the asian man told the police that he had a heart condition and needs immedate medical care, and what did the WHITE police man do? punch and bash him, untill he was unable to breath, and laying in the back of the police verchle. the asian man crawled out of the police van and died just before the ambulence arrived. those policeman should go and burn in hell, if hell wants them

MR

Rashid - from USA, 2 years ago

White Europeans who were thieves and murderers stole Aborigines' land and now they treating other people the some way they treated Aborgines.
Aussi is the land of immigrants and everybody should be treated equally otherwise things will go bad for everyone.
There are Aussies who live in Africa, India and the rest of the world and they can easly be harmed if u continue beating peole and killing them.
So remember u are indangering your citizens all over the world.

I agree with Abdelhakim

Geoff - from Townsville, 2 years ago

Abedelhakim you are 100% correct , The police aren't "idiots" they have life experience & when you combine it with their training & if you look suspicious & run from them what are the going to do , This fella better start changing his attitude especially if he wants to be accepted into the community & stopped being targeted by police, I support the police & I also think they do a great job, If this fella doesn't like it He can always go back to where he came from .

What have we here?!

Yellow man - from Epping, 2 years ago

Well, is this really only in VIC? once I was with my mates (white Australian), and we were pulled over for no apparent reason by an undercover police...so we pulledover (I was a passenger at the back). So here comes the fatty "while cop", put his head inside the car and what he says?!!! " ooohhhhh you're Aussies" then he saw me and being a little yellow man..he changed his tone and asked for driving licence.... Well what I'm trying to say is that is going to get worse the seeds have been planned

Absolutely disgusting

Zan - from Perth, 2 years ago

this country needs a shake up. We are the disgrace of the developed world.

Australia has respect for who respects himself

Abdelhakim - from Footscray, 2 years ago

Are the people being questioned hanging around on streets dressed in clothes associated with gangs? If so maybe they are getting the same treatment as other individuals whose appearance and behaviour is like that. I have not found that police target anyone who looks well dressed, takes care of himself and has come from work or study to home. I came here in 1996 from Somalia and found the police here do their job. the answer is not behave suspiciously or join with delinquent looking people.

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