Police clash with protestors

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2482 Police & protestorsBy ERWIN CHLANDA
 
Protestors allege that an Alice Springs police officer kicked a young photographer to the ground during a demonstration in Alice Springs today described by organisers as a “peaceful march against deaths in custody”.
 
The Shut Youth Prisons group which staged the protest says: “It is believed that there have been six arrests including youth justice advocate Dylan Voller.”
 
The group released footage from a melee that erupted (see video).
 
The Alice Springs News Online is seeking comment from the police.
 

VIDEO

 
UPDATE 5:13pm
 
Police say they have apprehended eight people aged between 14 and 47 after they obstructed traffic on the Stuart Highway today.
 
“The obstruction of traffic was outside an arranged organised protest in Alice Springs and put motorists and pedestrians at risk.
 
“Enquiries are ongoing and it is expected that the offenders will be released today pending being served with infringement notices for obstructing traffic and disorderly conduct.
 
“Youths will be considered for diversion as appropriate.
 
“Police will review footage of the incident and take action as appropriate,” the release says.
 
 
 
 

9 COMMENTS

  1. He was interfering with a police operation, he was told to move as they were trying to effect an arrest, he failed to do so, he was pushed away.
    Remember Erwin, this is on Police Rememberance Day. Did you do a story about the Officers who have paid the ultimate price in the NT? Just in case you were wondering, I have found the details for all of them for you.
    7 November 1883, Mounted Constable John Shirley, aged 27 years from dehydration while searching for men who had murdered a man at Lawson’s Creek.
    1 August 1933, mounted constable Albert Stewart McColl was speared to death at Woodah Island in Arnhem Land.
    17 August 1948, Constable Maxwell Gilbert, aged 27 years when the vehicle he was driving overturned just north of Wauchope. He was escorting a prisoner to Alice Springs.
    9 June 1952, constable William Bryan Condon was shot twice after confronting a gunman.
    16 June 1967, inspector Louis Hook died from extensive injuries from a rollover near Pine Creek.
    9 June 1970, sergeant Colin Eckert was killed in a head-on collision in Katherine.
    11 December 1981, senior constable Allen Price aged 44 years died of a heart attack while attempting to stop a disturbance in Mataranka.
    29 January 1984, detective sergeant Ian Bradford died when the police vehicle he was a passenger in went over the edge of the wharf in Darwin.
    3 August 1999, Brevet sergeant Glen Huitson was killed in a gun battle with bushman Rodney Ansell on the Stuart Highway.
    [ED> – Hi Ray, thank you for commemorating the heroic police officers who gave their lives in the exercise of their duties. But as for today’s events – you are raising the subject: In what way was the photographer “interfering with a police operation”?]

  2. So if you are that close to a takedown and an arrest being made, I really have little, no actually I have no sympathy for you.
    Silly people, silly actions.

  3. He was too close to an arrest. It takes a number of officers to do this safely, to control the head of the subject, arms legs etc.
    Police need to move around the subject quickly to ensure they are safe during the process. That photographer was too close and impeding the police officers movements as can be clearly seen in the video.
    If you are told to move by police, you move. Simple.
    It is not up to the public to question the way the coppers do their job.
    In the “heat of battle” they do hard jobs that you and many others are not prepared to do. Do not judge them when they are doing their lawful duties. Back away, let them work. Simple.

  4. How many victims of family violence sustained further assaults whilst waiting for police attendance due to this fiasco?
    How many patrols to prevent crime were prevented?
    How many this, that and the other were delayed, how many businesses were impacted, the list goes on and on.
    If they really cared about the incarceration rate would they not do something to contribute to the solution? Obviously not.

  5. So it seems Dylan Voller is a bit of a freak for an ass-whipping. I wonder if he’s seeing someone about that.

  6. Bill the demonstrators for the police time and they should pay the officers’ appearance money as well as Voller and his mentors are only after media exposure. They keep telling us they are reformed but keep breaking laws?

  7. The police involved were not wearing their mandatory identification labels on the day. This is a deliberate attempt by them to escape accountability for their heavy handed tactics on the day.

  8. Re “no to Police violence”.
    How do you know that their name tags where not on them at the start of the protest?
    Any thought that their name tags quite possibly got ripped off them during the “scuffle”.
    How do you know it was a “deliberate attempt by them to escape accountability?
    Why didn’t you go up to the police officers and ask them their name/s if you were that concerned that they didn’t have their name tag on?!

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