DEATHS in CUSTODY Time for Truth Telling – Time for Healing
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AIPOL MEMBERS USE ONLY. Pleasemembers do not hand of the this public out to Journal of the Australasian Institute of Policing Inc. Volume 13 Number 2 • 2021 Indigenous Australians DEATHS IN CUSTODY Time for Truth Telling – Time for Healing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this journal edition contains names and/or images of deceased people EXCLUSIVE DEALS ON LIGHTFORCE GROUP’S PRECISION PRODUCTS. Proudly supporting Australia Federal Police and Border Protection. Helping to keep Australia Safe! Force Ordnance can offer police force personnel special pricing on a range of products from Nightforce, Lightforce, Gunforce and APRS including precision optics, vehicle and handheld lighting, firearms and more. Visit forceordnance.com/police-signup to get offers by email or call (08) 8440 0888 to discuss your needs with one of our team. Contents Editorial 3 Foreword 5 Vol. 13, No. 2 June 2021 Indigenous deaths in custody: Published by the Australasian Institute of Policing Inc. 30 years since the Royal Commission A0050444D ABN: 78 937 405 524 ISSN: 1837-7009 into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody 12 Colonial Australia was surprisingly concerned about Aboriginal deaths in custody 20 Identifying the prevalence and predictors of suicidal behaviours for indigenous males in custody 23 Deaths in custody in Australia 2018-19 (Extract) 33 Visit www.aipol.org to view previous editions The Experience of Aboriginal and and to subscribe to receive future editions. Torres Strait Islander Participants in Australia’s Coronial Inquest System: Contributions Articles on issues of professional interest are sought from Australasian Reflections from the Front Line 42 police officers and police academics. Articles are to be electronically provided to the Editor, [email protected]. Articles are to conform to normal academic conventions. Where an article has previously been prepared during the course of employment, whether with a Shooting deaths in police custody 51 police service or otherwise, the contributor will be responsible for obtaining permission from that employer to submit the article for publication to Australasian Policing. Contributors are expected to adhere to the Journal’s publishing Indigenous deaths in custody: guidelines. These guidelines are available in this Journal. All papers inquests can be sites of justice are peer-reviewed. or administrative violence 58 Disclaimer While every effort is made to check for accuracy, the Publishers or Editors cannot be held responsible for the content, errors or omissions Mundine calls BLM ‘divisive liars’ 61 inadvertently published in articles and advertisements in Australasian Policing. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of AiPol, the Editors or the Publisher. No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from acting, as a result For protestors not all black lives matter 62 of material in this publication can be accepted. Copyright Overwhelming support for independent All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic , mechanical, First Nations body to investigate deaths photocopying, recording, or be stored in any retrieval system of any in custody 64 nature, without written permission of the copyright holder and the Publisher, application for which in the first instance should be made to the Publisher for AiPol. A Journal of Professional Practice and Research | AiPol Page 1 Most recommended1 super fund Our members can focus on today, knowing their future is safe with us. Visit QSuper.com.au today 1 Award is based on information collected from the DBM Atlas research program – feedback from over 80,000 business owners or retail customers January 2019 through December 2019. Award results are based on experiences and perceptions of customers surveyed in this period. For DBM Atlas and DBM Australian Financial Awards information, visit dmbconsultants.com.au. Product issued by the QSuper Board (ABN 32 125 059 006, AFSL 489650) as trustee for QSuper (ABN 60 905 115 063). Consider the PDS on our website to see whether QSuper is right for you. © QSuper Board Editorial DR AMANDA DAVIES Editor, Assistant Professor Policing and Security at the Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi Importantly, there is collective recognition that to achieve positive outcomes requires a partnership between all parties – Indigenous stakeholders, Federal, State and Territory governments and respective agencies and Most community support groups. recommended1 Welcome to the 1st edition of a two part families’ experience with the judicial This edition offers a selection of series focusing on Deaths in Custody. system, particularly in terms of notification, reports and articles which collectively The Black Lives Matter Campaign information and the provision of support articulates the current status of Deaths (BLM) in the USA over the past 18 following such tragedies. The BMC Public in Custody and associated influencing super fund months, which has received sustained Health article highlights an important factors. This information provides and centred global media attention, area of consideration, i.e. addressing the valuable background from which to has similarly given a boost to an active conditions which lead to suicide deaths in consider the goals of the National campaign in Australia. custody of Indigenous Australians. Agreement and monitor the impact of As discussed in the Aipol President’s Importantly, there is collective its application. Evaluation of the level of Our members can focus on today, report, this heightened attention has recognition that to achieve positive achievement of work progressed under advantages and disadvantages. The outcomes requires a partnership between the National Agreement will be evidenced knowing their future is safe with us. advantage, is it draws attention to the all parties – Indigenous stakeholders, in the reality of reducing the tragedy issue of Deaths in Custody, specifically Federal, State and Territory governments of Deaths in Custody and the trauma of Indigenous persons and the current and respective agencies and community and heartbreak it brings to families and state of strategies to address this national support groups. This is recognised in communities. tragedy. Unfortunately, negatively, key the National Agreement which came into Australians all have a part to play in USA BLM campaign elements are being effect in 2020 underpinned by significant supporting the efforts of governments, reflected in some Australian responses, contribution and guidance from key organisations, and communities through targeting police with divisive harmful Indigenous organisations and members. supporting positive speech and actions statements and actions. A comprehensive summary is provided in and the work of the myriad of agencies, The data indicates (see: Australian the President’s Forward. including police who are at the forefront Institute of Criminology and BMC Public There is valuable research being in implementing measures to reduce the Health in this issue) there continues to undertaken to contribute to the loss of life through Deaths in Custody. be unacceptable incidents of Indigenous development and implementation of I commend the articles in this edition Australian Deaths in Custody. The articles strategies to progress positive impact to you as a comprehensive brief on in this edition highlight key areas for on not only Deaths in Custody but also the current status of Deaths in Custody reform beyond the internal and external the associated factors reaching into the and the development of policy and investigations of deaths in custody to community, judicial, education and health procedures designed for positive impact include the Indigenous Australians systems. on this national dilemma. Visit QSuper.com.au today 1 Award is based on information collected from the DBM Atlas research program – feedback from over 80,000 business owners or retail customers January 2019 through December 2019. Award results are based on experiences and perceptions of customers surveyed in this period. For DBM Atlas and DBM Australian Financial Awards information, visit dmbconsultants.com.au. Product issued by the QSuper Board (ABN 32 125 059 006, AFSL 489650) as trustee for QSuper (ABN 60 905 115 063). Consider the PDS on our website to see whether QSuper is right for you. © QSuper Board A Journal of Professional Practice and Research | AiPol Page 3 PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE NSW POLICE AND AIPOL Highline, Westmead Deicorp is a proud sponsor of the AiPol Police Journal “ and we’re pleased to extend our thanks and appreciation 21+ to all serving NSW Police officers for continuing to keep years us safe during challenging times. o f s c s Fouad Deiri, on ce tinued suc Managing Director, Deicorp ” TNT Residences, Redfern Alfarn, Rockdale Proximity, Rouse Hill deicorp.com.au 02 8665 4100 Level 3, 161 Redfern Street, Redfern NSW 2016 Be part of our story! President’s Foreword JON HUNT-SHARMAN President, Committee of Management, Australasian Institute of Policing The Australasian Institute of Policing (Aipol) strongly believes that any death in custody is a tragedy for all involved and we hope that we can provide constructive suggestions to improve both the real and perceived views surrounding deaths in custody of our Indigenous Australians. Aipol acknowledges that behind the in custody, the rate of deaths, while lower Lives Matter movement, as applying to statistics provided in this edition,