Joel 
Joined: 23 Mar 1999
Location: Mornington Peninsula
|
| Post subject: Riots in Redfern |  |
|
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/National/story_54960.asp
Three inquiries into Redfern riot
| Quote: | The NSW government would launch three inquiries into the cause of riots in Sydney's Redfern and the death of teenager Thomas Hickey, Premier Bob Carr said.
Mr Carr said the coroner would investigate how the 17-year-old died after a cycling accident in nearby Waterloo on Saturday, and what police involvement there may have been in his death.
The teenager's death sparked a violent riot in Redfern as members of the community lashed out at police, who they blame for the incident.
Police have denied they were chasing the teenager when he came off his bike on Saturday and was impaled on a steel fence, suffering fatal injuries. He died early on Sunday.
Mr Carr said the police critical incident team also would conduct an inquiry into any police involvement in the incident, which would in turn be overseen by the Ombudsman.
But Mr Carr said police had his full confidence and backing in the way they handled the riots.
"I've got full confidence in the way police tackled this incident ... we have full confidence in the police and they have our full backing," Mr Carr told reporters.
The premier also called for calm over the situation and extended his sympathies to Thomas Hickey's mother and family.
Assistant commissioner Bob Waites defended the decision not to call in the State Protection Group, saying much of their equipment, such as tear gas, would have been compromised by the hot, windy and humid weather.
Instead, Mr Waites said regular officers had been recruited from as far away as Campbelltown and Penrith so as not to stretch numbers in nearer suburbs.
At the height of the police presence, 200 officers were called in, backed up by PolAir.
"We used all our available resources," he said.
Despite the high number of injuries, Police Minister John Watkins said "at no time were the police overwhelmed" by the group.
Mr Watkins said last night's incident was "an aberration" to the normally-good relations between police and the Redfern Aboriginal community.
AAP |
|
|
The Rules
FAQ
Usergroups
Calendar
Search
Log in
Register
