Stop-and-searches are part of a deliberate strategy of “proactive policing” used by NSW Police. Not just conducting them. Counting them.
The idea is to reduce crime by increasing police interaction with the community. But the ABC has unearthed a culture within the NSW Police of pressuring officers to boost search numbers, which legal groups say encourages the unlawful use of police powers.
Legal experts say this culture of proactive policing targets already-marginalised communities, and in particular, Indigenous Australians.
But while some former NSW Police officers have told the ABC that parts of the strategy have gone badly wrong, the NSW Police has defended the approach. A spokesman told the ABC that “proactive policing strategies have a direct correlation to crime reduction”.
This story was the result of a collaboration between Background Briefing, the ABC's Digital Story Innovations team, ABC Investigations and 7.30
Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-18/how-proactive-policing-quotas-sent-nsw-police-searches-soaring/103579210
Listen to the Background Briefing story here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/backgroundbriefing
And read about the investigation here:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-17/nsw-police-shot-western-sydney-man-bradley-balzan-inquest/103592578
You can also watch more on ABC 7.30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NifGnMTr6Ws
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