Published Wednesday, 31 January, 2007 at 04:14 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
CMC TO INVESTIGATE POLICING IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES
Premier Peter Beattie announced today that the Government had asked the Crime and Misconduct Commission to conduct a review into policing issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Mr Beattie said he had asked the CMC to report back to the Attorney General by August 31, 2007.
Mr Beattie said the review would look at the following:
• possible changes to existing police policy and procedure that would result in improved relations between the Queensland Police Service and Aboriginal communities living on deed of grant in trust (DOGIT) areas.
• current practices relating to detention in police custody in remote communities, including the monitoring of detainees in watch-houses and other police facilities in Aboriginal DOGIT communities and the possible involvement of Community Justice Groups or other civilians in the monitoring of detainees;
• the optimal use of existing and future State resources available to deliver criminal justice services in Aboriginal DOGIT communities; and
• land use issues in terms of the provision of criminal justice services and other relevant services in Aboriginal DOGIT communities.
“I’ve asked that the CMC provide me with practical advice,” Mr Beattie said.
“Both police and indigenous communities want to improve the current situation.
“This morning I have met with the Chair of the CMC, Ministers Bligh, Spence, Pitt and Shine and the Police Commissioner on the issue.
“I have also explained the reasons for my decision to hold an independent review of policing in remote communities to the police unions.
“Only by examining these issues in a non-political way can we address the current concerns expressed by both the police unions and by indigenous communities.
“Successive Queensland Governments have worked to implement the nearly 300 recommendations, relevant to Queensland, made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991
“More than a decade on I want the CMC to provide up-to-date advice on workable, practical policing strategies.
“New practices and technology need to be considered as part of the review,” Mr Beattie said.
The Premier said the Government had significantly increased its resourcing of police since it was first elected.
“Since 1998 we have increased police numbers from 6,800 to more than 9,300 today.
“It means Queensland now has a better police-to-population ratio than the Australian average. Nationally, there is 1 officer for every 440 people … in Queensland there is 1 officer for every 438 people.
“Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the police service has spent $144 million on upgrading or replacing watchhouse facilities,” the Premier said.
ENDS
Contact: Office of the Premier 3224 4500
Mr Beattie said he had asked the CMC to report back to the Attorney General by August 31, 2007.
Mr Beattie said the review would look at the following:
• possible changes to existing police policy and procedure that would result in improved relations between the Queensland Police Service and Aboriginal communities living on deed of grant in trust (DOGIT) areas.
• current practices relating to detention in police custody in remote communities, including the monitoring of detainees in watch-houses and other police facilities in Aboriginal DOGIT communities and the possible involvement of Community Justice Groups or other civilians in the monitoring of detainees;
• the optimal use of existing and future State resources available to deliver criminal justice services in Aboriginal DOGIT communities; and
• land use issues in terms of the provision of criminal justice services and other relevant services in Aboriginal DOGIT communities.
“I’ve asked that the CMC provide me with practical advice,” Mr Beattie said.
“Both police and indigenous communities want to improve the current situation.
“This morning I have met with the Chair of the CMC, Ministers Bligh, Spence, Pitt and Shine and the Police Commissioner on the issue.
“I have also explained the reasons for my decision to hold an independent review of policing in remote communities to the police unions.
“Only by examining these issues in a non-political way can we address the current concerns expressed by both the police unions and by indigenous communities.
“Successive Queensland Governments have worked to implement the nearly 300 recommendations, relevant to Queensland, made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991
“More than a decade on I want the CMC to provide up-to-date advice on workable, practical policing strategies.
“New practices and technology need to be considered as part of the review,” Mr Beattie said.
The Premier said the Government had significantly increased its resourcing of police since it was first elected.
“Since 1998 we have increased police numbers from 6,800 to more than 9,300 today.
“It means Queensland now has a better police-to-population ratio than the Australian average. Nationally, there is 1 officer for every 440 people … in Queensland there is 1 officer for every 438 people.
“Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the police service has spent $144 million on upgrading or replacing watchhouse facilities,” the Premier said.
ENDS
Contact: Office of the Premier 3224 4500