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Every week at my work I collate all the news on domestic & family violence across Australia. Consistently police are in the news - for committing violence, for mishandling reports made by survivors, for internal sexism. Make no mistake, violence perpetrated by police is systemic
These are just *some* of the incidents that have happened this year. They show how systemic this is. Content note that many of these articles are distressing
'Systemic problems': IBAC uncovers police failings on domestic abuse by officers – Dec 6 2020 https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/systemic-problems-ibac-uncovers-police-failings-on-domestic-abuse-by-officers-20201206-p56l0d.html
Victoria Police documents highlight internal struggles with officers accused of domestic violence – Oct 23 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-23/documents-highlight-victoria-police-domestic-violence-problem/12802586
Abusers in the Ranks - Oct 19 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-19/police-in-australia-are-failing-to-take-action-against-domestic/12757914?nw=0
‘Defund the police for domestic violence’: Qld Police under fire over sexist ad – Sept 27 2020 https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/09/27/queensland-police-sexist-campaign/
Calls grow to fire Queensland police officer who leaked domestic violence victim’s address – Sept 6 2020 https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/crime-news/2020/09/06/domestic-violence-police-punchard/
Queensland police officer who leaked address of domestic violence victim has conviction overturned – Sept 1 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/sep/01/queensland-police-officer-who-leaked-address-of-domestic-violence-victim-has-conviction-overturned
Police used protester’s previous sexual assault report to embarrass her during NDA rally arrest – Aug 30 2020 https://honisoit.com/2020/08/police-used-protesters-previous-sexual-assault-report-to-embarrass-her-during-nda-rally-arrest/
Former ethical standards officer with Victoria Police convicted of sexual assault – Aug 11 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-11/victoria-police-officer-working-in-ethical-standards-convicted-/12546650
Calls for independent inquiry over WA Police sex assault email bungle – Aug 11 2020 https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/western-australia/calls-for-independent-inquiry-over-wa-police-sex-assault-email-bungle-20200808-p55js2.html
Two senior police officers charged with sexual assault – Aug 5 2020 https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/two-senior-police-officers-charged-with-sexual-assault-20200805-p55ix8.html
Sex assault victims at Curtin University directed to defunct WA Police email – July 31 2020 https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/western-australia/sex-assault-victims-at-curtin-university-directed-to-defunct-wa-police-email-20200729-p55gj8.html
Qld Police stand down cop over domestic violence allegations – July 14 2020 https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/breaking-news/queensland-police-stand-down-cop-over-domestic-violence-allegations/news-story/b93f74c47d53f7f1e1e4d4fe704b14d4
Victoria Police, minister apologise to domestic violence victim after 'appalling' privacy breach – June 17 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-17/victoria-police-officers-domestic-violence-lisa-neville/12332238
Law firms look to launch landmark strip-search class action against NSW police – May 27 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/27/law-firms-look-to-launch-landmark-strip-search-class-action-against-nsw-police
Queensland cop stood down amid domestic violence probe – May 17 2020 https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/queensland-cop-stood-down-amid-domestic-violence-probe-20200517-p54to1.html
Warning: this article is distressing.
Police officer is fired after being caught on camera bashing two Indigenous women during a domestic violence call-out – May 13 2020 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8314137/Cop-fired-caught-bashing-two-Indigenous-women-domestic-violence-call-out.html?fbclid=IwAR29EzGlosN51Niew0SJ4s9yZ7tu4J-EF5J-gEvUXzP9PwceLMZAIlWjn7g
Police officer is fired after being caught on camera bashing two Indigenous women during a domestic violence call-out – May 13 2020 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8314137/Cop-fired-caught-bashing-two-Indigenous-women-domestic-violence-call-out.html?fbclid=IwAR29EzGlosN51Niew0SJ4s9yZ7tu4J-EF5J-gEvUXzP9PwceLMZAIlWjn7g
Queensland police: 84 officers accused of domestic violence in past five years – March 3 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/03/queensland-police-84-officers-accused-of-domestic-violence-in-past-five-years
Despite being found guilty of sexual assault, this cop remains on the force – Feb 24 2020 https://www.thebigsmoke.com.au/2020/02/24/despite-being-found-guilty-of-sexual-assault-this-cop-remains-on-the-force/
Unpursued in the Top End – Feb 20 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-20/sexual-assaults-reported-to-nt-police-least-likely-to-be-pursued/11917478?nw=0
SA Police failed to investigate ongoing domestic abuse before victim’s murder, inquest hears – Jan 28 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-28/inquest-into-murder-of-kunmanara-may-begins/11906106?nw=0
Rough justice: How police are failing survivors of sexual assault – Jan 28 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-28/how-police-are-failing-survivors-of-sexual-assault/11871364?nw=0
When you begin to actually piece these stories together, they show what many communities know to be true - the police do not keep women, especially marginalised women, safe. These aren't just 'bad eggs', they are members of every police force across the country
Sensitivity (or cultural awareness) training is not enough to solve these issues. They run far deeper than that, and it's important for everybody working in this space to take that seriously
