Media coverage

We are always happy to work with journalists: ring Penelope at pglc (at) mail.com (0409 221 700) or Dale at dalemills (at) cantab.net (0422 644 363).

Pictured: members of the Tranny Cops, a satirical group dancing in front of Riot Police at the G20 protests in Melbourne.  Unlike the Riot Police, whose over-deployment and aggressive behaviour increases tension and the risk of conflict, the Tranny Cops and other groups play a real role in reducing tension created by the police at protests.




The articles listed below are in addition to articles focusing on particular areas.  For example, for articles on Tasers, go to the Taser page. 

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June 2009

 

April 2009
Fake pope-mobile charges dropped by ABC News 27 April 2009.

Allan Hathaway wins $300,000 damages over police bash claims Daily Telegraph 23 April 2009.

Video coverage: fulll Guardian [UK] video coverage of police abuse during the April 1st protests in London (including death of Ian Tomlinson) 21 April 2009. [Final official report on the policing can be found here]

BBC video coverage on police officers and identification at protests. Questions on 'anonymous' police BBC online 17 April 2009.

Brute force: Channel 9 Sixty Minutes TV report on the NSW Public Order and Riot Squad (recommended) 17 April 2009.

Spot the difference:it's in the squares by Geesche Jacobsen Sydney Morning Herald 6 April 2009. 
Confusion created by almost identical uniforms of police Protective Services Officers.

March 2009
Cyclists naked ambitions punctured by Elle Harvey Sydney Morning Herald 16 March 2009.
The only naked bike ride in the world to be closed down by police, according to event organisers.

Activist Padriac 'Paddy' Gibson lands payout after APEC arrest by Edmund Tadros The Australian 9 March 2009.
Compensation awarded to activist unlawfully arrested at APEC protest.

Revealed: police database on thousands of protesters by Paul Lewis and Marc Vallee The Guardian [UK] 6 March 2009.
Includes a police surveillance video obtained by the Guardian as they monitor journalists.  Also discussion of police surveillance of reporters at a McDonalds and collection of details on individuals not suspected of illegal activity.

The APEC wall that couldn't keep the Chaser out cost $2 million by Jerome Taylor Sydney Morning Herald 5 March 2009.
"Police have been fighting a Freedom of Information request for the full price tag of the fence for more than 16 months."

Graffittii girl spared jail by Lisa Davies Daily Telegraph 5 March 2009.

NSW to allow secret searching, hacking [by police] ABC report 4 March 2009.
New legislation allowing secret searches of people's homes etc, and delaying notification for years.

Latest police weapon: a secret search by Geesche Jacobsen Sydney Morning Herald 5 March 2009.

Graffiti girl wins appeal against sentence by Harriet Alexander Sydney Morning Herald 4 March 2009.
Woman who receives sentence of 3 months imprisonment wins appeal against severity of the sentence. 

Court OK with using covert evidence by Catherine Munro Sydney Morning Herald 5 March 2009.

February 2009
Taunts forced gay officer out by John Kidman [Sydney] Sun-Herald 24 February 2009.

Poll highlights fear over street riots by Joe Churcher and Matt Dickenson, PA report, Independent [UK] 23 February 2009.  Poll shows that over one third of Britons believe the army will be used to suppress street riots and protests.

Anti-whaling ship raided by Andrew Darby The Age 22 February 2009.
Australian Federal Police take action against the Sea Shepherd organisation. 

Activists charged with protecting Florentine [Tasmania] by Bruce Evans Green Left Weekly 21 February 2009.

Amnesty drug bins at events after teen's death by Debbie Guest The Australian 7-8 February 2009.

Police warn off MPs by Yoni Bashan Daily Telegraph 1 February 2009.
No apparent web link.

January 2009
Elite cops 'just cashed-up cowboys' by Paul Maley The Australian 16 January 2009.  Critical article on the AFP.

Loophole gets one in six off the hook:criminals avoid conviction by Geesche Jacobsen Sydney Morning Herald 13 January 2009.
Article on section dismissals (no recorded conviction) of minor criminal charges.

Pursuit of shock tactics by Michael McKenna The Australian 13 January 2009. Feature article on Tasers.

Vic police arrest two in forest protest AAP 13 January 2009.
Arrests in East Gippsland, Victoria.

Gunns writ against 13 activists by Matthew Denholm The Australian 8 January 2009.

Tighten police taser controls: lawyers by Michael McKenna The Australian 8 January 2009.

Too much expected of young police by Dylan Weich Sydney Morning Herald (Weekend edition) 3-4 January 2009.
36% of police have less than 5 years experience. 

 

 

December 2008
Activism and the Academy by Nicole Rogers in Alternative Law Journal Vol. 33  no. 4 2008.

Don't film us on a raid, say officers by Asher Moses Sydney Morning Herald 27-28 December 2008.
A Sydney man had his mobile confiscated by police and was threatened with arrest after he filmed officers at work, in an incident civil liberties advocates say is becoming a frighteningly common occurrence.

Cops chase 'contributed to fatal crash' by AAP 18 December 2008.
NSW Police must bear some of the blame for the death of a young woman after they "foolishly" chased a car at high speed down a dirt track, a coroner has found.

Police not forced to cut overtime: Kelly by AAP 18 December 2008.
NSW Police Minister Tony Kelly has denied reports officers are being forced to slash overtime in order to help the cash-strapped state government." 

Ex-crim wins damages in corrupt cops' heroin plant case by Natalie O'Brien The Australian 18 December 2008.
A Sydney criminal, jailed after being "loaded up" with bags of heroin by crooked cops, has won a case against the NSW police and has been awarded $230,000.

Police anti-terror squad spies on protest groups by Nick Hager and Anthony Hubbard Sunday Star Times (NZ) 14 December 2008.  Also see from same date How Gilchrist was found out and Who the police were spying on.

Medical payouts soar for NSW Police by Geesche Jacobsen Sydney Morning Herald 11 December 2008.
Ten times more NSW police officers retire for medical reasons than their Victorian colleagues, the Auditor-General has found.

Review NSW police benefits scheme: A-G by AAP 10 December 2008.
"NSW retire on medical grounds at 10 times the rate in the Victorian force, prompting calls for a review of their benefit." A copy of the Auditor-General's Report cited in this artical can be found on the NSW Auditor-General's website.    

Transit officers could carry guns by APP 4 December 2008.  "Transit officer could become part of the NSW police force and even carry guns under a plan the state government is considering, the opposition says."

November 2008

Police hire private spies to snoop online by Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie Sydney Morning Herald 26 November 2008.

Cuts tips for police compo as costs top $115m by Dylan Welch Sydney Morning Herald 27 November 2008.
The NSW police disability scheme faces cutbacks as it cost increased by $85 million in two years."

London police wary of Tasers by Richard Ford The Australian 26 November 2008.
"The authority overseeing Britain's largest police force has warned that a government decision to allow Taser stun guns to be used by non-specialist firearms officers threatens to cause fear among the public."

AFP 'spying' on anti-whaling activists by Narelle Towie Perth Now (powered by the Sunday Times) 24 November 2008.
"Perth anti-whaling activists say they are being spied on by the Australian Federal Police."

Police proceed with stun gun trial by Dylan Welch Sydney Morning Herald 21 November 2008.
"The government is refusing to commit to key recommendation's in a scathing Ombudsman's report into the use of Tasers."

Teenager recalls excrutiating pain inflicted by police Taser by Michael McKenna The Australian 21 November 2008.
"The shock of 50,000 volts hit her 50kg frame without warning." Report of 16 year old girl being Tasered in Queensland.

Nothing new about cops spying on the left by Jerome Small Socialist Alliance website November 2008. 

Police silence on man's death after Taser hit by Dylan Welch Sydney Morning Herald 20 November 2008.
"A man died of a heart attack after being repeatedly show with a Taser in one of the first uses of the weapon in NSW, but police omitted it from official records, including the man's death certificate."

Ombudsman calls for freeze on Tasers by Belinda Merhab 20 November 2008.
"The NSW Ombudsman has recommended a two-year freeze on further roll-outs of Taser guns, saying police standards for their use are inadequate, and the health risks unknown."

Police slammed over Taser plan by Dylan Welch Sydney Morning Herald 19 November 2008.

Police feel heat after girl tasered by Michael McKenna The Australian 15 November 2008.
"Queensland police face disciplinary action after they held down and tasered a 16-year-old girl who had defied an order to move on because she was waiting for an ambulance to treat her sick friend." 

Squeegee men, your days are numbered by Geesche Jacobsen Sydney Morning Herald 9 November 2008.
"In an internal [NSW police] notice, police officers have been encouraged to issue fines of up to $400 for washing car windscreens at intersections or putting up powers on power polls."

Damage bill for police cars at $5m by Natalie O'Brien The Australian 17 November 2008.
"NSW Police have cost taxpayers more than $5 million in damages to police cars during the past year, with thousands of accidents involving more than half of the force's 3860 fleet of vehicles."

October 2008
WA's police prosecutors could lose role by Debbie Guest The Australian 24 October 2008.
Article on the conflicts of interest involved in having police officers acting as non-qualified lawyers in court (as is the case in NSW). 

Logging protest turns ugly by Andrew Darby Sydney Morning Herald 23 October 2008.
"Forest activists say they feared for their lives afer a violent attack by Tasmanian loggers led to one man wielding a sledge-hammer and others kicking in a protest car."

Guns a jolt from boys in blue by Dylan Welch Sydney Morning Herald 18-19 October 2008.
"Police have already shocked 5 people with Tasers in the first fortnight of use of the controversial new weapon, despite their assurances the stun guns would be a "less-than-lethal alternative" to police pistols."

Lives put at risk by corrupt police by Gary Hughes The Australian 10 October 2008. [no apparent link]

Our very own police state by Brian Toohey Australian Financial Review 10 Octoner 2008.
"NSW police have...the power to spray unidentified isotopes on people they wish to tract."

Journalist reveals hereself as a police target by Sally Jackson The Australian 6 October 2008.
"Crime reporter Paula Doneman yesterday revealed herself as the subject of  a Queensland police investigation into alleged leaks, speaking out to draw attention to an intensifying "climate of fear." 

Stun gun police use widened by Dylan Welch Sydney Morning Herald 2 October 2008.
Tasers will be in the hands of general duties police officers for the first time in the state's history from today. 

The force is with you - if you pay by Dylan Welch Sydney Morning Herald (weekend edition) 4-5 October 2008.
Police forces rent out their officers for $82.50-$100.10 per hour.

 

September 2008
Standards high despite police records by AAP 29 September 2008.
"NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has urged perspective after revelations 133 serving officers have criminal records, saying that represents less than one per cent of his force."

Police radio blackout is a concern for civil welfare by Mark Morri Daily Telegraph 15 September 2008.
"If the NSW police force spent as much time, energy and resources controlling Sydney's streets as it does trying to control the media this city would be a much safer polace to live."

Cleared: Jury decided that threat of global warming justifies breaking the law by Michael McCarthy The Independent [UK] 11 September 2008.
"The threat of global warming is so great that campaigners were justified in causing more than £35,000 worth of damage to a coal-fired power station, a jury decided yesterday...Maidstone Crown Court cleared six Greenpeace activists of criminal damage." [Note: this English decision may not apply to Australian law]

Police can not defend our streets against crime by Kara Lawrence Daily Telegraph 10 September 2008.
"Criminals who steal your car, break into your house or rob you run virtually no risk of being caught."

No title by Nigel Hunt www.news.com.au 7 September 2008.
"A MAJOR defence expo due to start in Adelaide on Remembrance Day has been cancelled amid fears of violence by radical protest groups.  Organisers of the Asia-Pacific Defence and Security Exhibition [in Adelaide] made the decision after talks with the State Government and police over planned protest action against the three-day event."

Beware of the police bearing lists by Edmund Tadros Sydney Morning Herald (weekend edition) 6-7 September 2008.
"University activists and Greenpeace members made up a third of a secret list of 61 people NSW Police considered so dnagerous they were banned from public areas near last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum."

Police intelligence reports on those excluded from APEC security areas during APEC and released under Freedom of Information laws, obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald (see article above, Beware of the police bearing lists).  Note that the names of individuals and the 'mug shot' at the top of each page have been withheld.

Pavement protests test the limits of civil obedience by Louise Schwartzkoff Sydney Morning Herald 5 September 2008.
Street Theatre by the Loyal Citizens Underground in Newtown.

Anti-terrorism laws to spy on noisy neighbours [UK] by Chris Hastings Daily Telegraph 6 September 2008.
"Councils are using anti-terrorism laws to spy on residents and tackle barking dogs and noisy children."

Satelites, Citizens and secrets: R v Law & Others by Russell Goldflam. Article on the overturn of convictions for activists who entered the Pine Gap spy base in the Norther Territory.

 

August 2008
Call to Reform Police Powers by Chris Merritt The Australian 28 August 2008. "Civil libertarians have called for reform of police powers after a Sydney art student was arrested and pressured to delete video footage of a violent clash between 20 late-night revellers and between 30 and 40 police."

Shock to the system by Natasha Bita The Australia 12 August 2008.
Tasers "are being introduced to Australia's police forces by stealth, without parliamentary scrutiny or even public debate over their safety or suitability."
 
Concern as police bugging power widens by Heath Gilmore Sydney Morning Herald 3 August 2008.  "NSW police now have special emergency powers to bug or track people for up to four days without a warrant."

Robo cop:brawlers beware by Eamon Duff Sydney Morning Herald 3 August 2008.  "Each member of the public order and riot squad is kitted out with more than $8500 in gear."


July 2008
Legal Victory for expelled peace activist by Peter Gregory The Age 19 July 2008. "United States peace activist Scott Parkin has won a legal victory against Australia's security agency, prompting his lawyers to call for the release of documents that ultimately caused his ejection from the country."

Channel protest group defeated by Rick Wallace The Australian 16 July 2008. "THE Rudd and Brumby governments have won the right to shut down a protest group opposing the $1 billion plan to deepen Melbourne's shipping channel."

Topless 'chicks' arrested in KFC protest at au.yahoo news 14 July 2008. 

Rules 'would ban giving water to faithful' by Jano Gibson Sydney Morning Herald 12 July 2008.

Blocked MP calls for rethink on politics in malls by Phillip Hudson Sydney Morning Herald 7 July 2008 (no apparent web link).

Solicitor charged after intervening in drug search at pub by Joel Gibson Sydney Morning Herald 7 July 2008.

PR for police spins to $10 million by Natalie O'Brien The Australian 7 July 2008.

June 2008
Police outstayed welcome by Tim Dick Sydney Morning Herald 13 June 2008.  Civil action against the police for trespass.  This is a report of the High Court decision of Kuru v State of New South Wales [2008] HCA 26 (12 June 2008). 
 
Costs pursued against dredge protesters by Ewin Hannan The Australian 19 June 2008.  "The Rudd and Brumby governments have been accused of trying to send a prominent environmental protest group "out of business" by pursuing legal costs...." 

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Police censured for violent arrests by Michael Pelly Sydney Morning Herald 26 December, 2005 (no apparent web link)
NSW police have been ordered to pay damages of more than $300,000 for two wrongful arrests in which officers broke a woman's arm and a man's wrist.

In both cases a district court judge, John Delaney, did not believe police evidence and took the unusual step of awarding exemplary - or penalty - damages for "high-handed" behaviour.

David Bryant received a $130,000 payout after police threatened him with a gun, broke his wrist and threw him to the ground during an arrest for "breaking traction" on a V8 Commodore at St Marys in 1998.

Late last month Judge Delaney awarded Anne Marie Nesbitt, 25, $170,662 after a senior constable broke her arm in the car park of Panthers Leagues Club in Penrith in 2002. The officer said he went to detain her after she swore.

That verdict was delayed because Judge Delaney had to wait until the Court of Appeal rejected argument that exemplary damages should not be awarded against the state for the misconduct of a police officer. It said there was "logic in seeking to deter future harm" .

Two weeks later the appeal court awarded Dorothy Ibbett $100,000 for assault and trespass. Police had turned a revolver on her as they arrested her son for a traffic offence at their home in Forster, on the North Coast, in January 2001.

Last week two officers were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions over the bashing of Allan Hathaway in Wagga Wagga in 2003.

Judge Delaney said Mr Bryant and Ms Nesbitt could have been charged by summons rather than arrested with excessive force. Ms Nesbitt had been waiting for her brother outside Panthers when police approached. A past accident had left her with affected speech and police thought she was under the influence of drugs.

With the incident caught on security video, the judge rejected police evidence that Ms Nesbitt was resisting arrest. Her arm was broken during "an improper use of their power", he said. She could have been charged with offensive language.

In granting $20,000 in exemplary damages, he said it was important to "bring home to the state that police officers must be trained and disciplined so abuses do not occur". Steve Groves of the Penrith law firm Lamrocks said Ms Nesbitt was still traumatised.

Mr Bryant was found guilty of breaking traction with the road and resisting arrest, but the convictions were later quashed.

Judge Delaney awarded exemplary damages of $50,000 for "overzealous and inappropriate application of force in a minor traffic matter".

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Lawyer wins $145,000 for 'spiteful' arrest by Natasha Wallace Sydney Morning Herald 25 October 2005

Lawyer Adam Houda has been awarded at least $145,000 for wrongful arrest over a scuffle with a "spiteful" police officer, who unjustifiably accused him of assault.

Mr Houda sued the state of NSW after he was arrested in 2000 at Burwood Local Court and charged with assaulting Constable Lance Stebbing.

The charge was withdrawn and dismissed six months later.

Today, Mr Houda, 30, was awarded the payout by the NSW Supreme Court for malicious prosecution, wrongful arrest and false imprisonment.

It does not include interest and a decision on costs will be made on Friday.

Constable Stebbing had told Mr Houda, who has represented former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib and accused terrorist Bilal Khazal, to "f--- off" in front of a group of people, the court heard today.

Mr Houda had told him to mind his own business after he interrupted a conversation the lawyer was having with another police officer about a client of his.

Constable Stebbing then walked towards him in a "menacing" way and said "get out of my personal space" and pushed him in the chest into a wall.

Mr Houda then raised his hand in front of his chest and came into contact with Constable Stebbing, who kept walking towards him.

Mr Houda had replied to him: "Where do you want me to go, you idiot? I have a wall behind me."

Mr Houda told the court that he thought Constable Stebbing must have been "crazy".

It was a "reasonable act of self-defence", Acting Justice Harvey Cooper said in his judgement today.

But Constable Stebbing arrested Mr Houda and took him down the staircase of the courthouse, onto the street and down to the police station, where he was detained for one hour.

"Constable Stebbing well knew that that offence had not been committed and that he was motivated to do so solely out of spite or ill will towards the plaintiff because the plaintiff had stood up to his unjustified, menacing and rude conduct."

Asked outside court why he pursued the action, which involved a four-week hearing, Mr Houda said: "It's based on principle. The police abused their powers on the day and brought thuggery to the court and I stood up for my rights."