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Unchecked police corruption, violence

Selena Black, Melbourne

30 November 2007

The Federation of Community Legal Centres has criticised Victoria’s Office of Police Integrity (OPI) and the Ethical Standards Department (ESD) for allowing “police corruption, misconduct and violence to go unchecked” despite “several damning reports and public hearings” this year, said Will Crawford, a federation spokesperson, on November 28.

An example of police violence cited is an allegation that a community legal centre client, Ahmed Dini, was hit in the mouth with a heavy torch by a senior constable. A charge Dini was facing of “hindering police” was subsequently dismissed. The constable has not been charged. The Somali-born Dini required hospital treatment after the assault. “We complained to the OPI 18 months ago and we have heard nothing”, said Tamar Hopkins, a solicitor at Flemington-Kensington Community Legal Centre. It is also alleged that an ESD investigator persuaded the senior constable to change his evidence during a lunch break at court. The OPI has given this complaint to the ESD to investigate.

Crawford said that the community is discouraged from making complaints because of the low percentage of ESD findings of police misconduct.

The federation is calling for the establishment of an independent anti-corruption commission, along the lines of those established in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.