Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, has demanded an independent inquiry into the police tactics and excessive use of force at the Land Forces protests in Melbourne this week.
Ms Sandell has written to IBAC requesting an inquiry following independent legal observers witnessing police using pepper spray indiscriminately, police deploying weapons in very dangerous circumstances, multiple protestors injured by police, and extraordinarily violent arrests, as well as police charging horses into crowds of people and whipping people with horse whips.
Independent legal observers at the protests have themselves been assaulted and pepper (OC) sprayed by police.
Police have an obligation to protect the right to protest for all, without discrimination, and must not use indiscriminate policing tactics, except when it is strictly necessary and proportionate to do so.
Yet in April this year a separate IBAC review of 15 separate investigations into Victoria Police’s use of OC spray found that “the decisions and actions of police escalated incidents or increased the risk of safety of those involved”.
Police officers are obliged to de-escalate all situations that might result in violence and exhaust all non-violent means, including by giving prior warning, before resorting to the use of force. This has not happened at these protests.
As stated by Ellen Sandell Greens MP:
“We have seen police throw flash grenades into crowds of protestors, police use pepper spray indiscriminately and whip people with horse whips, and police charging horses into crowds of people who don’t have any room to move away.
These are military-style tactics used by police against protestors who are trying to have their say, as is their democratic right. Police are using excessive force and violence, which escalates the situation and puts people at risk.
Victoria Police have a history of excessive force and pepper spray, and it’s time they were called out for it, because everyone has a right to attend a protest without fear that the police will use violence against them”.
As stated by Jeremy King (Principle, Injury Law and Police Misconduct – Robinson Gill Lawyers):
“I am very concerned at the heavy-handed approach being taken by Victoria Police towards people exercising their fundamental civil right to protest. There is simply no place for the use of rubber bullets in Australia in the 21st century. They are dangerous and we know from history cause serious injuries and have even resulted in death. Victoria Police also have a most unfortunate history with indiscriminately using pepper spray at protests and this needs to stop now.”
