Police officers must personally pay for bashing and humiliating man
Each year, police forces in Australia pay millions of dollars in compensation to people who have been mistreated by police officers. In these situations, it is really the taxpayer who foots the bill, not the guilty officers. But while this...
New Prison for Indigenous Inmates
One of the more troubling statistics to emerge from our criminal justice system is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates make up 40% of Western Australia’s prison population, despite comprising only 3% of the state’s population. Many Australian prisons...
Should Kids be Held in Immigration Detention Centres?
More than 400 doctors from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Victoria are refusing to send children back to the Nauru offshore detention centre, creating tensions between the hospital and Immigration Department. The doctors believe that discharging children into the inhumane...
Is it an offence to resist an unlawful arrest?
It’s no secret that some police officers act outside of the law, including when it comes to arrests. For a range of reasons, those under arrest may be reluctant to assert their rights - even if they know they’ve done...
More ‘Anti-Terrorism’ Laws on the Horizon
The NSW State Government is well-known for its reactionary approach to perceived threats, with a range of laws enacted in recent years to address concerns about motorcycle groups, alcohol-fueled violence and, most of all, terrorism. The tragic killing of a...
A Quick Guide to the Law on Forensic Procedures in NSW
We often receive calls from those in police custody who want information about their rights when it comes to taking part in forensic procedures. Forensic procedures generally involve the taking of a sample from a person by police for investigative...
Police Target Patrons at Charity Event
The motorcycle community has faced a relentless police campaign in recent years, following the widely-publicised Sydney Airport brawl between rival members of the Hells Angels and Comanchero motorcycle clubs. The brawl, which erupted after months of tensions between motorcycle clubs...
Jury Finds that ‘Respect the Flag’ Group are a Criminal Gang
It’s an unfortunate day when a child’s birthday party ends in adults on the street with weapons drawn. In one such party in Douglasville, Georgia, which was attended predominantly by African-American people, the celebrations were interrupted when a group called...
Can I arrest a police officer?
No one should be above the law, and that includes police. Unfortunately, not all police officers act within the bounds of the law at all times. A photo doing the rounds of social media over the holidays showed a police...
When Can a Jury be Discharged?
Juries play an important role in our criminal justice system. As ‘fact finders’ in criminal trials, jurors are required to determine whether the prosecution has proven the guilt of the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. Jury of One’s Peers Juries are supposed...
