OzCops v. M1ers

Rob Schaap rws at comedu.canberra.edu.au
Sat May 5 21:58:33 PDT 2001


http://news.com.au/newspulse/pulseframe/0,4711,1967955^421^^nbv,00.html

M1 protesters may sue police

06may01

PROTESTERS injured during the M1

rally say they may sue police.

One man, who received internal

injuries after allegedly being hit in the

stomach by police, and others with

bruised necks and arms, are

considering seeking damages.

Police have labelled the legal action a

waste of taxpayers' money.

Lawyers representing anti-globalisation

protesters will spend this week viewing

video and photos of the Brisbane CBD

rally and interviewing participants.

May Day protesters in London and

Melbourne have indicated they would lodge

similar claims.

M1 Alliance legal observation officer Karen Fletcher said civil action against police could result from the violent clashes last Tuesday that resulted in 51 arrests.

More than 1000 protesters took part in the rally, clashing with 200 police in running battles across Brisbane's central business district.

"Many of those hurt have seen their doctors and they have received a range of injuries," said Ms Fletcher.

Ms Fletcher, who described the police reaction as excessive, said action could be taken against individual officers and the police service.

M1 lawyers would also consider asking the Criminal Justice Commission to investigate the actions of several police officers.

Queensland Police Union president Gary Wilkinson dismissed any legal action by protesters as "nothing more than bravado".

Police had conducted themselves in a totally professional manner.

"Seeking compensation is just another tactic in their arsenal," said Mr Wilkinson. "Let them have a go -- we don't mind taking court costs off them."

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties vice-president Terry O'Gorman said protesters were entitled to launch civil actions. A number of compensation cases had been successful in Victoria in recent times.

"Civil action, while no lay-down misere, is probably the only effective remedy open to protesters wrongly arrested or injured by police," he said.

Mr O'Gorman expressed concern that police could have misused a new "breach of the peace" power on Tuesday to arrest protesters not otherwise committing any offences.

"The power shouldn't be used to thwart the right to peaceful protest," he said.



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