Press Release 24/10/11 Occupy Melbourne will today write to the Victorian Ombudsman calling for an investigation into at least 43 documented instances of police violence against peaceful demonstrators, including children, during the morning raid of October 21.
Occupy Melbourne have welcomed Robert Doyle’s concern for public safety and have again called on the Lord Mayor to support a full inquiry into the events of Friday 21 October where riot police were deployed against peaceful demonstrators.
Occupy Melbourne’s lawyers have 43 statements detailing shocking injuries inflicted by police on peaceful protestors. These include eye-gouging, punches to the face and back of the head and the deployment of pepper spray, including on children. The OM legal team is still receiving statements.
“Robert Doyle needs to have a bex and a good lie down,” said Occupy Melbourne’s Emma Kerin.
“This situation requires cool heads and mature decision making, which is why we have called for an independent inquiry into the decisions taken by Melbourne City Council, the Lord Mayor and Victoria Police,” Ms. Kerin said.
“We will today call on the Ombudsman to investigate instances of police violence against those assembled. We will also call for answers as to whether the Lord Mayor knew in advance that riot police would be deployed against his own constituents.”
“Not everyone agrees with the concerns Occupy Melbourne has around increasing inequality in Australia and around the world, but most Melbournians would agree that using riot police, pepper spray and police dogs and horses against peaceful protestors, including children, is plain wrong.”
“The images seen on television of police violence were shocking. We need an investigation into how this came to happen and who permitted police to use such excessive force on those peacefully assembled.”
“Cnr Doyle has questions to answer and Occupy Melbourne supports a full and independent inquiry into police violence.”
• Occupy Melbourne is currently in discussions with its lawyers and are considering legal action to redress the violence inflicted by police.
• Occupy Melbourne is still waiting for an explanation from Victoria Police as to why officers were permitted to remove name tags and identification numbers, despite being required to wear these under law.
• Melbourne City Councilor Cathy Oake has backed calls for an inquiry into the police violence & Liberty Victoria and the Australian Lawyers Association have also expressed concerns about the level of police violence.
• Occupy Melbourne will hold it’s next General Assembly on Tuesday this week, 6pm at the State Library to democratically discuss the next steps in the growing movement against corporate greed and inequality in Australia and around the world. All are welcome to participate.
Comments
The week long occupation of city square ended my heroics Police
The week ago occupation of the city square by a group of squatters.
The group was giving under age youth both drugs and alcohol.
Now the City Square has been clean up of the buckets of urine left behind and is now reopen for public use.
If you see squatters trying setup a new camp in the city please report this, this is our city and they have no right to try and take it over.
Well done to the Victorian police force - world's best bar none
You were calling the Police who make our city safe scums.You were told to move by the police you didn't, if you had of followed their orders you would not of got hurt, you decided not to follow their orders, you must have known they would use force it was your choice and now you are sooking up.If the police let you stay and did not move you on I for one would have asked for them all to be sacked.
To the Victorian Police force once again you have done a great job thank you for making the city safe and putting the city before your own well being.I believe the Victorian Police force is the best police force in the world bar none, because of this I can walk anywhere in Victoria at night by myself and feel safe.I think the Police showed great restraint.
If I was incharge of the Police, I would have given you all ten minutes to leave, if you didn't I would have sprayed you all with capsicum spray and thrown you all into the backs of trucks, taken your mobile phones then dumped you in the middle of the bush and made you walk home.In some countries they would have tortured you then shot you and put you in a shallow grave somewhere.So a little bit of respect is in order for our great police force thank you
Hopefully Some Bloke is not taking his anger out on those around
I hope some bloke is not a police officer. If he was, he would realise that people have died from being dumped in the bush.
And as it is, there are reports of people being dumped...
Some bloke would also realise that o/c spray is toxic and has been known to be lethal and that very strict rules apply to its use that appear to have been broken by the police force he claims to respect.
Some bloke is clearly a very angry person. I hope he is not taking it out on those around him.
Re: Occupy Melbourne welcome Lord Mayor’s concern: Inquiry ...
Well well, who would have expected cops to get on this website and comment. Hi to you both.
If you aren't police you should seriously consider joining the force. I hear stupid, hostile, fascist people such as yourself are in high demand.
Well well, who would have expected cops to get on this website
Well well, who would have expected cops to get on this website and comment. Hi to you both.
If you aren't police you should seriously consider joining the force. I hear stupid, hostile, fascist people such as yourself are in high demand.
Use your phones, link up, use look-outs and keep at it
Some Bloke is entitled to his opinion, no matter how wrong he may be.
Robert Doyle though, well that's a differenr matter entirely. The City's representative couldn't bring himself to go to the protesters and put his case.
No, not Lord Mayor Doyle. In the finest tradition of Henry Bolte's 60's/70's Government, Doyle assumed the arrogance of power and sent in the jack-boots.
This extreme over-reaction will only result in a more determined effort in future.
Hopefully future will make better use of technology to have some lines of communication. A web site would be useful. It would serve as a focus and as an open forum.
The police should never, NEVER have surprised you. Use your phones, link up, use look-outs and keep at it.
It's only the Start of the beginning.