Victoria's Chief Police Commissioner Shane Patton has issued a proper apology for the police power's actions and injustices towards Indigenous individuals within the state.
The highest cop appeared earlier than the Yoorrook Justice Fee right this moment, the place he acknowledged the position of police and the continuing hurt brought on in the direction of Indigenous individuals in Victoria.
"I do know Victoria Police has brought on hurt prior to now and sadly continues to take action within the current," Patton mentioned.
"As Chief Commissioner, and on behalf of Victoria Police, I want to formally and unreservedly apologise for police actions which have brought on or contributed to the trauma skilled by so many Aboriginal households in our jurisdiction.
"I see the Yoorrook Justice Fee as a possibility for state companies like Victoria Police to publicly acknowledge the wrongs which have occurred and which nonetheless happen.
"(Additionally) to make a public dedication to how we intend to function and interact with Aboriginal people, organisations and communities and to then comply with via with actions to implement the commitments."
The fee is Australia's first Indigenous truth-telling physique, shaped in 2020, to share and document tales in regards to the ongoing injustices skilled by First Peoples in Victoria.
Patton additionally apologised for the power's involvement within the elimination of Aboriginal kids from their households, together with quite a lot of points throughout the justice system itself which have affected Indigenous Victorians.
"Because of systemic racism, racist attitudes and discriminatory actions of police have gone undetected, unchecked, unpunished or with out applicable sanctions and have brought on important hurt throughout generations of Aboriginal households," he mentioned.
A minute silence was noticed after the apology.
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