Two Lismore police officers have been charged over an incident in April in which an eight-year-old Aboriginal boy was allegedly left in the rear pod of a caged police vehicle at Coraki police station for almost an hour.
The boy had been taken into custody over an alleged malicious damage offence.
After being released, he was examined by ambulance paramedics, and found to be uninjured.
An internal investigation into the incident was launched and as a result, two male senior constables, attached to the Northern Region, were served last Thursday with future court attendance notices for neglect of duty and leaving a child in motor vehicle causing emotional distress.
They are expected to appear in Lismore Local Court on Tuesday 22 November.
Both officers are currently on restricted workplace duties.
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That is really shocking and disapointing to hear. These officers need child handling training and maybe a bit more common sense.
Perhaps all officers need daily reminders of their duty of care; Take a moment when you start your shift to get your head and heart straight, you are there to serve and protect.
What relationship with law enforcement is this child going to have thanks to this neglect and resulting distress? Even if this eight year old is a handful, there are procedures.
I’m glad actions are being taken to dicipline and reeducate the officers.
But, there was no mention of action for the child. I’d like to know what will happen to help this child deal with this trauma and avoid whatever behaviour placed him in their custody.
Where on earth are we headed as a society when an 8 yr old is taken into custody alone for alleged malicious damage. Lets face it the police probably dont really have much in the way of resources for such dealings anyway!
come on !! nothing will happen to these … !! never does . lock e’m up !! thats kidnapping !!! 8 years old !!!!
small minds , little man syndrome with big guns !!! nothing will ever change in this country !!
I am so sick and tired of hearing the continued injustice of Aboriginal people of all ages. When is this going to stop! Australia should be proud that we have the oldest existing culture on the planet and yet we continue to treat most of them like shit!
More RESPECT to our first nation people is needed and then we will see improvements in the devastating negative statistics that plague their culture! Stop the patronising, and listen more to their way of dealing with problems.
Glad those police officers are being brought before a judge. But don’t be surprised if they just get a slap on the wrist. And so it continues….
I write to point out the incorrectness of your daily email today.
Using the term Black teen ‘caged’ in van seems to me out of order.
The article itself was fine.
Your should apologise and rectify this.
Aboriginals as offenders are over represented in our justice system because they offend the most. I accept that their are many reasons for that but still feel sorry for our hard working police who are trying as hard as they can to provide balanced enforcement. In my experience you knockers are usually the first people to ring 000 if something goes wrong in your own camp.
It is a criminal offence to leave a child in a locked vehicle. If police are not aware of this then who is responsible for this lack of training? If however they are aware of the law in this matter, then breaking it wilfully with intent, makes this an even more serious. offence.
These police officers must be given a punishment which reflects the serious nature of the crime.. They have abused their power and when that abuse involves a criminal offence affecting the physical and psychological health of a child, then the punishment calls for a custodial sentence.
Irrespective of colour, locking “children” in a van is an outrage.
I can only imagine how difficult if is to deal with a 8 year old offender , that’s allegedly been damaging someone,s property , maybe all those quick to dam the police might have second thoughts if it was their property damaged and I bet you you,d soon be calling them if it was your property damaged regardless of colour , red , black , blue or white etc p/s I’m not a policeman or have any great friend of .