26 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Local hearing into violent arrest impossible because of ‘staffing, security’ issues, police watchdog says

Latest News

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Other News

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival returns to Byron Bay in May, and this year ‘locals favourite’ pub...

Casuarina cricketers too strong for Mullumbimby Brunswick in grand final

Mullumbimby Brunswick Cricket Club (MBCC) had a very successful season finishing second on the ladder at the end of the home and away season with 13 wins and 4 losses, but fell short of winning the grand final against the Casuarina Crocs.

Hiatus Beers

Launched to market in July 2022, Hiatus Beers is all about brewing crisp, refreshing, full-flavoured, non-alcoholic beer.  The founders...

Murwillumbah’s Rebecca Whan recognised for tireless work post 2022 floods

Murwillumbah was severely impacted by the 2022 floods and it was a huge community effort to support, rescue and inspire everyone to move forward. 

Coveted Wollumbin Art Award open for young and old

Are you an artist in the Northern Rivers? Now is the time to get your art ready and submitted to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre’s coveted biennial Wollumbin Art Award.

Breakfeast, Bluesfest weekend

Victoria Cosford Oh to be a cow with a four-chambered stomach system! Farmers’ market, Bluesfest long weekend, a spot of...

The NSW police watchdog says it considered having a local public hearing into the violent arrest of a naked 16-year-old in the Shire, but decided not to because of ‘staffing, security and availability of premises’.

Locals have expressed frustration over the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission’s [LECC] decision to hold the public hearing into the January 11 arrest at its Sydney offices on March 26, as this makes it virtually impossible for the community to attend.

In response to these concerns, an LECC spokesperson told one local that ‘Byron Bay was considered as a location to hold the public hearing and a number of Commission officers visited the area to assess appropriate premises’.

‘A decision was made to hold the hearing at the Commission premises in Sydney based on a number of issues including staffing, security and availability of premises.

‘Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearing. Funding is not available to assist with travel. Members of the public are welcome to make submissions in writing to the Commission should they have information they believe will assist with the hearing and this information will be assessed by the Chief Commissioner.’

In response to the LECC’s decision to hold the hearing in Sydney, local youth advocate Nicqui Yazdi has launched a crowd funding campaign so that she and a number of other community representatives can attend.

‘We are urgently seeking funding donations in a hurry for airfares, airport transfers and expenses to enable representatives of the Byron Community to attend the public forum next Monday,’ Ms Yazdi said.

‘At the very least youth leader James Wright and I would like to attend this hearing on behalf of the Byron community and to write a report on the proceedings to bring back to the people of Byron who have been desperately seeking answers to how this incident occurred and how the initial internal police investigation was conducted..’

She questioned the LECC’s explanation for choosing not to hold the hearing in the community where the incident occurred.

‘We have had public hearings in the Shire before so I don’t really understand why suitable premises couldn’t be found,’ she said.

‘The Office of Liquor and Gaming held a public hearing in Byron when there was a proposal to build a Dan Murphy’s super store here and that was conducted without a hitch. We have multiple conference venues in the Shire and it’s not hard to get security in the area because of all the events and festivals.’

The violent arrest of the youth came to public attention on February 6 when Channel 9’s A Current Affair broadcast CCTV footage of the incident.

It footage shows an officer repeatedly striking the youth with a baton while three others hold him down in a lane in the Byron Bay CBD.

In a statement to the media NSW Police said the police had been called to the lane by residents at around 2.30am and arrived to find the youth, who appeared to be affected by drugs or alcohol, lying naked in street.

Police said the teenager then became aggressive, necessitating the use of capsicum spray.

The youth then allegedly attempted to assault the officers and was tasered, police said.

In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission said the ‘general scope and purpose of the hearing will be to investigate whether any NSW Police Force officer involved in the apprehension, detention or treatment of a 16-year-old male at Byron Bay in the early hours of 11 January 2018 engaged in serious misconduct’.

To contribute to Ms Yazdi’s crowd campaign go to www.gofundme.com/get-byron-reps-to-police-hearing


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Does this mean that the Court House is not a safe location to hold legal enquiries ?
    LECC could provide video conferencing from the Byron Bay Court House that would solve everyone’s problems

  2. Should there be an extra Inquiry into the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission as to ‘staffing, security and availability of premises’ and to use the results of that inquiry in a campaign at the next State election.

  3. At least they flew a couple of people up, at tax payers expense, to have a thorough look around and ascertain that there is nowhere near Byron that the police feel comfortable to hold a public enquiry.
    Perhaps we need to spend a bit more on tactical response training so the police can feel safe in Byron.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.