Latest News & Updates

An investigation by IBAC of a police brutality and racism complaint by client Nassir Bare has resulted in IBAC deciding the complaint was unsubstantiated due to insufficient evidence.

“While pleased this complaint was finally independently investigated, the decision by IBAC in regard to Mr Bare is disappointing. It highlights the flaws in a system that did not provide any initial independent investigation when the complaint was first made. Our client’s version of events, of being brutalised and racially abused by police officers has not changed in the 7 years it has taken to get it independently investigated,” said Director of Youthlaw, Ariel Couchman.

“Mr Bare is a courageous young man who spoke out about his experience and continued to request investigation all these years, not only to bring the officers involved to account but to benefit other young people who are too afraid to make complaints.”

The decision of the Court of Appeal still stands and calls into question the police complaints investigation system in Victoria.

“We call on the state government to establish a victim-centred independent body, whether this be an expanded IBAC or a new body, to investigate complaints against police”.

“Until this occurs the number of complaints against police will remain small, as most complaints are still referred back to Victoria Police to investigate. Police who abuse their powers will continue to undermine the good work and practice of their colleagues, and the community will not be confident that justice is being served.” said Ms Couchman.

For further media comment please contact:
Ariel Couchman, Youthlaw Director 0438812937
Tiffany Overall, Advocacy and Human Rights Officer 0400903034

Despite the hysteria being whipped up by the Herald Sun & the police association, the new bail law changes that came in on Monday 2nd May will in no way prevent police dealing effectively with youth offenders. Bail breaches have consequences.

The changes get rid of the draconian once size fits all bail laws introduced under the previous government. In all this beat up lets nor forget that the new Victorian Crimes stats Agency has just released stats showing youth offending is on the decline.

Recent highlighted offending by a small cohort of young people needs to be treated seriously and effectively. The Bail changes will enable justice and police services to target their resources to areas of concern. The changes will also enable courts to respond to the offending of young people as they should -individually.

Ariel Couchman
Director, Youthlaw

We know children and young people getting caught up in the Victorian criminal justice system are some of the states most disadvantaged and vulnerable, many from the poorest parts of Victoria, many having left school early, living in the out of home care system, with a highly disproportionate number being Koori children. We know many of these children and young people graduate to adult offending.

To limit the numbers of children on this trajectory of becoming adult offenders there is a critical need for a strengthened focus on early intervention and prevention programs.

The Andrews Government is making significant investment in early intervention and programs that address the causes of and risk factors behind youth offending. $5.6 million for a state-wide youth diversion program, new initiatives to keep or re-engage children in education, crime prevention programs that help local communities identify and address the risk and protective factors, Roadmap for Reform that aims to strengthen the child protection and family services system and Government’s commitment to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

We encourage Government to further strengthen this approach and commit to alternate crime prevention policy and investment: justice reinvestment.

This approach involves a strong community development focus on intervening early and at critical life points, particularly in the lives of vulnerable and at-risk young people, currently over-represented in the criminal justice system.

A justice reinvestment approach is evidence based and data driven and resources communities and their young people to discuss, decide on and implement early intervention, prevention or diversion supports are needed by young people in their community.

Justice reinvestment aims to break the cycle of offending by focusing on and addressing some of these underlying social causes of criminal offending or recognized “risk factors” for offending behaviour, such as family violence and breakdown, child abuse, trauma and neglect, disengagement from school and/ or work, alcohol and drug abuse/misuse, and mental illness and intellectual disabilities.

By tackling disadvantage and the causes of offending, crime is prevented and expenditure on courts and prisons is reduced.

There is significant work going on in Victorian communities currently that demonstrate to various degrees of how justice reinvestment can strengthen communities and reduce youth offending.

The kinds of local community initiatives that help prevent crime and address its causes include:
– family support services such as parenting programs, enhanced maternal and child health care,
– a focus on preschool for young children, and
– education programs that help keep at-risk young people engaged in school or further training

Take the example of the work taking place in the community in Maryborough.

In the past Central Goldfields Shire has rated 79th out of the 79 local government areas in Victoria on many health and social indicators.
A multi-sectorial partnership called the Go Goldfields Alliance is tackling a range of health and social issues via a series of shire-wide, community-driven approaches to improve social, education and health outcomes for children, youth and families.

Even without a discrete justice focus, this collaborative community led approach is making a difference in addressing underlying causes of crime.