Riot in Australia?

[PC August]

Hey,
Hoping maybe some of the Aussie coppers know something about this...apparently there was a recent street riot in Australia, not sure what city, in the Aboriginal section of town. I'm curious what happened but the newspaper just had a tiny blurb on it.

Anyone know anything?

[Huey14]

I saw it on the news. Apparantly, according the rioters Mums, the police were chasing the kid and he fell off his bike and impailed himself on the fence, which triggered the riots.

Thats all I know.

[krj]

Found this on Yahoo: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=13&u=/ap/20040216/ap_on_re_au_an/australia_riot_040215204347

Hopefully our Australian friends can add some more info.

[JohnKelly]

The Yahoo News Link provided by krj provides all of the details and information that is currently available.

It all seems to centre around the allegation that the youth was running from the police and died as a result of falling of his bicycle and impalling himself on a fence.

The police deny that they were chasing the youth.

[NSWCop]

Don't Know if this link will work, but it gives an insight into the Redfern Riots and how Australian Police are reacting:

http://www.aussiecops.com/phpBB2/newtopic.php?t=805

Basically:

A 17 year old grub (who was breaching his bail and AVO conditions and had an outstanding warrant) saw police patrolling. Earlier on there had been a particularly violent bag snatch, which increased police presence.
The grub bolted, fell off his bicycle and impaled himself on a fence. A couple of minutes later, officers came across him, rendered first aid, etc.

The grub later died in hospital, some "eyewitnesses" stated the grub was being pursued by police (where were these people whilst he was bleeding to death is a question the media haven't asked, I wonder why?)

Being Aboriginal i.e a "minority" (read - protected species). The immediate implication is that the copper did the grub in.

The flames were fanned by the hot weather, alcohol, underlying socio-economic conditions and a particularly self serving "elder".
(I have personal knowledge of this "elder". He was kicked out of his home town by his community and is NOT a nice person.)

Combine that with grubs with a perceived grievance, political spinelessness and and over-worked, under equipt station and you get the Redfern Riots.

Over 40 officers were injured with about a dozen hospitalised.

[co911]

I just listened to an internet link of the actual radio traffic. There is some incredible stuff going on.

The Dispatcher is telling officers responding that they "must have bullet-resistant vests"? Officers are actually asking the Dispatcher not where in Redfern to meet, but how to get to Redfern? During the rapidly exploding situation police officers are running unrelated license plates and clearing unrelated suspects on the primary channel. And the Dispatchers, as the riot conditions grow and officers request more and more cops, keep dispatching unimportant, unrelated calls to officers from neighboring stations? Almost every single call has to be routed through a Dispatcher. There appears to be no secondary radio channel and the location for the Command Post must have been broadcast 30 times.

Don't get me wrong nswcop, I admire the guys on scene for what they did, but your dept seriously needs to work out its radio communication system, and it's response to crowd control sitautions. It's hard to believe no officers were killed...

PM me if you want the link.

[NSWCop]

Originally posted by co911
I just listened to an internet link of the actual radio traffic. There is some incredible stuff going on.

.

Don't get me wrong nswcop, I admire the guys on scene for what they did, but your dept seriously needs to work out its radio communication system, and it's response to crowd control sitautions. It's hard to believe no officers were killed...

PM me if you want the link.

Thanks, but I found it on Aussiecops.

911, I could not agree more with your statement.

(1) Radio Communications - I believe it was only a week prior to the riot that a couple of police in Redfern were attacked by about 15 scrotes whilst trying to arrest one. One of the officers had his gun removed and pointed at him, it was even jammed into his belly, before he got it back!! AT that time they called Urgent and Signal 1 no less than 5 times, no response!!

(2) Crowd Control - It is criminal that, in places like Redfern especially, there is no full-time Opperational Support Group. Like-wise I am not aware of any training available to first-line supervisors (not in OSG) to deal with crowd control. The NSW Police Department have always gotten along on a "wing-and-a-prayer" attitude. This should change, it won't, but it should.

Sorry...
putting away the soap box.

For those of you interested, check out

www.aussiecops.com

it is an Australian based Law Enforcement Forum, very interesting.

To the best of my knowledge, all Police injured in the riots have returned to duty!

[Huey14]

That IS good news!

[rugbyman]

that some officers from the riot suffered broken bones! obviously that cant be right if they are all back at work.

You Aussies aint that tough!

;)

[NSWCop]

Originally posted by rugbyman
that some officers from the riot suffered broken bones! obviously that cant be right if they are all back at work.

You Aussies aint that tough!

;)

Smile when you say that stranger:D

OK OK, the officers with broken bones are NOT back at work yet. Only cause they can't get their plastered limbs into their uniforms.

Not only tough, but dedicated!!!!!:eek: :D :D

(and like a lot of Aussies, not real bright!!!):p :p

[co911]

I'd say there are parts of Sydney and South Auckland which give some big city US ghettos a run for their money. Great news about the Sydney cops, I'm sure the radio situation won't go away soon.

[JohnKelly]

Originally posted by rugbyman
that some officers from the riot suffered broken bones! obviously that cant be right if they are all back at work.

You Aussies aint that tough!

;)

Some of those Officers that suffered the broken bones are in fact back at work and have resumed their Wallabie Training Schedule.

:)

Cheers,

[Huey14]

The pies and beer training John? :D

I'd say there are parts of Sydney and South Auckland which give some big city US ghettos a run for their money. Great news about the Sydney cops, I'm sure the radio situation won't go away soon..

There's parts of Wellington I won't go into either. **** that.

South Auckland...**** that too.

[Huey14]

Alright, who edited my post? I would appreciate a heads up that it was done.

O.com?

[JohnKelly]

Originally posted by Huey14
Alright, who edited my post? I would appreciate a heads up that it was done.

O.com?

Don't worry about it Huey - no one person physically edited your post - the program is pre-set to delete certain magic words and replace them with *****

O.com not only deletes certain magic words but is also programmed to delete any mention of the the name of its main competitor which is *********.com ;)

Cheers,

[Huey14]

Well for f'ucks sake!

Damn fairys and their magic wands, grumble grumble.

I shall use all my knowledge and cunning to get around it!

:D

[NIGHTMARE]

Why the hell were OSG not deployed. Yes OSG specialist were there but the few OSG operatives present must of been shaking their head's indisbelief why the OSG were NOT deployed in force.

Don't take this the wrong way but the majority of coppers involved were not specialist in Riot/Crowd Control/Civil disorder unlike their 'specialist' brothers in OSG. Yes 'some' of the coppers who attended were trained in very basic civil disorder techniques however very basic is to say the very least.

If 10 OSG specialist (and a handful of 'Mounties') can defend the main entrance to the Israeli Consulate in Sydney against in excess of 2000 muslim extremist with only their GLOVES to protect themslevs against a barrage of punces and metal missles the size of a fist,and resulted in each member bruised, injured and standing their ground, an incident that earned a group unit citation for all involved due to their individual bravery, why were not this essential unit deployed to the redfern riot's.

If OSG were deployed the result would have been a very different story. Someone needs to answer for this that placed all involved in harms way on this evening.

RESULT of this stuff up: 50 Coppers injured.

[NIGHTMARE]

OSG Operative holding one of the weapons the extremist threw at OSG

[NIGHTMARE]

A picture of our friendly extremist community at war with the OSG Sydney!

[NIGHTMARE]

OSG Rules!

Step up to the plate!

[NIGHTMARE]

Police patrol the block.

Redfurn Police General Duties (G.D's)patroling the block. The 'block' is the area which errupted during the Redfurn Riots. Redfurn G.D's rock!

[NIGHTMARE]

'Operation Viking' Officers patrol the 'block' post Redfern riot.

[NIGHTMARE]

Police lines hit with explosion (molitov coctail and firecrackers amongst other weapons were used by rioters) at redfern during riot.

[NIGHTMARE]

Police Rescue drag Injured officer from the line

[Deniz]

Some recent reports state that the Redfern riot was planned well in advance of the "Hickey Boy" incident.

Funny that he's been made into a peace idol when he had a reason to run from the police... hmm makes you think... :rolleyes:

[NIGHTMARE]

Denniz the ones I feel sorry for in this whole mess is the mother of the deceased and the police who responded to the now deceased injuries. I can understand her sorrow, I can understand the mother wanting to blame somebody for it, especially when all of the locals rushed in to blame the police for his death, (they were not going to rush to the defence of those officers as they wear blue). Really she should have blamed her son for his past actions and his own misjudgment on that day that led to his death, maybe this whole thing could have been avoided. She should have thanked the police who dragged the impaled body off the fence and worked on her boy. Imagine how those buggers feel.

The media had a field day over the incident without first obtaining 'evidence' before falsely accusing the officers involved, well that is how I perceived it after listening to various media reports after the lad died. I wonder if the police will receive compensation for defamatory remarks by the media, hmmmmm that would be justice.

[NIGHTMARE]

Between the rocks and a hard place
By Miranda Devine
February 19, 2004

This is how racist the police at Redfern are: in the mornings a police youth liaison officer rides in a community school bus through the suburb, which picks up children at their houses. If a child wasn't waiting, former liaison officer Raquel Hassett used to even go inside the house and help him or her get dressed and ready for school.

On Sunday mornings police take three children to Nippers at the South Maroubra Surf Club. The Police and Community Youth Club in Elizabeth Street serves breakfast to children before school. In January, 12 police officers took 20 children from Redfern on a four-day camp to the Myuna Bay Sport and Recreational Centre on Lake Macquarie. That's on top of two other camps last year. Keep in mind the officers get paid only for an eight-hour shift.

In the past 12 months they have taken six Redfern children to meet Sydney Roosters players, 50 children to Redfern Oval to meet Souths players. They have taken them on board a Navy ship, to Australia's Wonderland, to Homebush Aquatic Centre, the NSW Gymnastics Academy in Miranda, mini-golf at Fox Studios, movies and lunch at Miranda Fair, to the theatre, and for swims on hot days to the Victoria Park pool in Darlington.

For their efforts, much done in their own time, they have Aboriginal activist Lyall Munro this week calling them "marauding racist police from Redfern", and applauding the "brave stance" of the rioters. "If Palestinian kids can fight ... war tanks with sling-shots, our kids can do the same," he told ABC radio.

For their trouble, the police have the Greens senator Kerry Nettle writing letters to newspapers this week complaining about the "enormous police presence" around Redfern station during Sunday night's riot. "The simple fact that young Aboriginal children are taking flight when they see police officers in the area is an indication that there is a problem. Such a flight response is generated by fear, and more heavy police tactics will not solve the distrust and understandable anger."

Understandable anger at being taken to Nippers on Sunday morning?

For their trouble, Redfern police have been attacked with bottles and rocks about 40 or 50 times in the past year. There was the incident last Thursday in which an officer attempting to arrest one youth was surrounded by a dozen youths and his Glock pistol was grabbed from its holster. Last month, while trying to arrest a 13-year-old wanted for robbery, two officers were surrounded by youths and attacked. One officer had his shoulder dislocated. The youth went to court and was released on bail on condition he not go to Redfern's Block. Police soon picked him up in the Block, but he was just bailed again.

"Police feel really let down," said the Police Association executive officer, Paul Huxtable, who was on duty in Redfern last night. "It's not just a clock-on clock-off job. We like to think we are friends to the community, not enemies. But some people down there treat us like an occupying force."

One aspect of Sunday night's riot that most disillusioned police at Redfern is that two of the most energetic brick and paver throwers have benefited the most from police generosity. What's more, a policeman who has received death threats and the most vitriolic abuse, is part-Aboriginal.

Sunday night's riot was not an aberration, just an enhanced version of business as usual for Redfern police officers, who have to tread on eggshells even to begin to do their jobs. They have to balance the desire of their political masters for no controversy in Redfern, with the demands of law-abiding residents, taxi and bus drivers, train commuters and victims of crime that they enforce the law, with compassion for the disadvantaged children as young as six or seven they see on the streets at 3am, and for the 13-year-old third-generation heroin addicts. They do this in the face of a prevailing attitude, from the social welfare industry, some Aboriginal leaders, some in the legal profession and the media, that they are racist brutes, largely to blame for the social dislocation and anger on their patch.

"We've had a gutful of being the political footballs," said one angry Redfern officer, who asked not to be named. "We have gone above and beyond our roles, extending into the field of social work, where we shouldn't have to go. We have had to do it because no one else is."

Even with a glut of agencies in Redfern supposedly to help the underprivileged - 80 in total, says the Reverend Bill Crews - police say they are left to pick up the pieces.

"DOCS [NSW Department of Community Services] is a joke," said the officer. "We do our job and refer matters to them and it's up to them to act ... and all I can say is we've been disappointed." So afraid are they of being accused of creating another "stolen generation", welfare agencies are loathe to interfere with Aboriginal families, no matter how dysfunctional, they say.

For instance, officers have been trying in vain to get DOCS to intervene in the case of a nine-year-old boy in the area living in a violent and chaotic environment. They say the child was at the forefront of the riot, allegedly throwing petrol bombs, jumping up and down on a police car and stealing a police baton.

The Premier, Bob Carr, blamed the riot on hot weather, grog and grief over 17-year-old Thomas Hickey who died after he came off his pushbike and was impaled on a metre-high fence. Carr's response has been to order three separate inquiries.

Huxtable says police are upset that one is a "critical incident" inquiry, which is supposed to be for cases in which someone is killed or injured as a result of police pursuit or police shooting. Considering the police maintain they were not chasing Hickey, they feel they have been considered guilty from the start. "Straight away there is an atmosphere that they've done something wrong ... They feel totally and completely abandoned by their Premier," Huxtable says.

He says the police were outnumbered and underequipped on Sunday night. In the end all they could do was form a "human brick wall so [the rioters] didn't rampage against the rest of Redfern".

It gives thin blue line a new meaning: a thin red, black and blue line, as police were knocked unconscious, cut, bruised and had limbs broken. You can only hope the residents of Redfern appreciate the effort.

[Deniz]

Originally posted by NIGHTMARE
I can understand her sorrow, I can understand the mother wanting to blame somebody for it, especially when all of the locals rushed in to blame the police for his death...


As a person with some life experience, one thing I've learned is: "When you're doing bad things, nothing good will come out of it".

What did she expect was going to happen?