[Greens-Media] Police Powers - better guidance needed

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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Police Powers - better guidance needed

Dr Deb Foskey, ACT Greens MLA and Member of the Legislative Assembly's
Legal Affair Committee welcomed the publication of the report of the
Committee's inquiry in to Police Powers today, but lamented the fact
that the incident that led her to propose the inquiry remains
unresolved.

"I thought it was important that our Committee looked at police powers
following reports to me of incidents involving the allegedly unwarranted
use of capsicum spray on young people.  That was on election day in
2004. The matter is yet to be resolved" Dr Foskey said today.

"The young people were part of a Reclaim the Streets demonstration which
had just come to rest on the grassy media strip at the junction of
London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue when the police used their
capsicum spray on a young brother and sister." 

"A federal election is coming up soon. We can expect further
demonstrations in the heightened context of anti-terror legislation and
a frightened federal government. I am concerned that similar incidents
could occur again."

 "The committee conducted a rigorous inquiry and has, I believe,
produced a thorough survey of police powers around the country. It is
clear that ACT Policing - and the AFP -  could learn a lot from the way
demonstrations are handled in other States" Dr Foskey said.



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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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