The NSW Police Force says it is “shocked” and “confronted” by an independent review into its internal culture, despite Aboriginal people having submitted substantially the same feedback continuously for 238 years, mostly through the official channel of being ignored.
“We had no idea,” said one senior officer, standing in front of a filing cabinet labelled Complaints — Blackfellas, 1788–Present (Do Not Open).
Gomeroi grandmother Aunty Pearl welcomed the review’s release. “Good on ’em for finding the culture problem. We drew them a map. We’ve been the focus group, the case study and the statistics. Five thousand officers got interviewed about feeling unsafe at work… deadly, now do the people they pull over.”
The review heard from staff in face-to-face interviews, online surveys and group discussions, which Aboriginal communities noted was “way more options than we get” their usual consultation format being a coronial inquest.
Police leadership vowed the report would not sit on a shelf, confirming a brand-new shelf had been purchased specifically for it, right next to the Royal Commission recommendations, which celebrate their 35th birthday this year and have asked for a cake.
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