2007
| Author | Weber, Leanne |
|---|---|
| Date | Nov, 2007 |
| Source/Publisher | Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 19(2), pp235-242 |
| Link(s) | http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/CICrimJust/2007/31.html |
| Subjects | Deaths in custody |
The appointment of liaison officers to act as bridges to vulnerable or hard to reach communities is a standard application of a community policing philosophy, and one that would seem to have much to commend it. However, in the case of many Indigenous communities, the very nature of the role is historically suspect. This article traces the role of the Aboriginal liaison officer Lloyd Bengaroo in the tragic death of Mulrunji in police custody on Palm Island, and considers broader questions about policing strategies in communities with a history of rejection of police authority. While recognising that Aboriginal liaison officers may be an accepted adjunct to State policing in some areas, it concludes that these unsworn officers cannot be expected to substitute for genuine consent to policing in areas where police legitimacy is in serious dispute. (Abstract.)
Copyright in content on AustLII (a) AustLII is not the copyright owner in the source documents published on AustLII and is not able to give permission for reproduction of those source documents. (b) AustLII claims copyright in all value-added content that it adds to source documents (including hypertext mark-up, and alternative citations). On request, AustLII usually gives permission for reproduction of examples of this content for teaching, training or similar purposes. The University of Sydney owns the copyright in the information provided on this site, unless stated otherwise. Material on this site is subject to copyright under Australian law and through international treaties, applicable law in other countries. Individuals may copy a reasonable portion of the material on this site under the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 provided it is used for research or study or for criticism or review. Educational institutions may reproduce limited amounts of material from this site under Part VB of the Copyright Act Apart from these specified uses material from this site may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without prior written permission of the University of Sydney.