The head of the
Western Australia Police Force apologized to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the "immeasurable pain and suffering" caused by law enforcement.
Commissioner Chris Dawson said police in the
Western Australia state participated in the forced removal of indigenous children from their homes during the
Stolen Generations. He also said other law enforcement practices and policies have led to "mistrust" among
Aboriginals and
Torres Strait Islanders.
"The intergenerational impacts of this suffering continue to impact the welfare of Aboriginal people who are overrepresented in our justice system today," Dawson said in a
speech at police headquarters in Perth on Thursday.
"We cannot change the past but we can learn from it. We can make amends and ensure mistakes are not repeated."
The speech took place during
NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags were raised at headquarters as part of the ceremony, which included a performance by the
Middar dancers.
According to the 2011 Census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples represent 3.1 percent of the population in Western Australia. Aboriginal peoples live on the mainland while Torres Strait Islanders live in the
Torres Strait Islands off the northern coast.
Despite their small numbers, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are overrepresented in prisons in Western Australia. The state in fact had the highest indigenous imprisonment rate in the country, according to a
February 2018 report.
During 2016 and 2017, two indigenous individuals died while being held in police custody in Western Australia, according to the report. That was the most of any state.
Read More on the Story:
WA Police issues apology to Aboriginal people for wrongful past treatment
(The International Business Times July 13, 2018)
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson apologises to WA Aboriginal people for past mistreatment
(ABC News July 12, 2018)
Australian police chief apologizes to indigenous people
(The Associated Press July 12, 2018)
'Deeply sorry': Western Australia police chief apologises to Indigenous people (The Guardian July 12, 2018)
WA police commissioner Chris Dawson to issue apology to Aboriginals over ‘unconscious bias’
(The West Australian July 12, 2018)
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