Victoria Police chief Shane Patton open to independent oversight body

Shane Patton also formally apologised on behalf of the force for enforcing discriminatory policies on First Nations people.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victoria’s police chief Shane Patton backs an independent oversight body to handle complaints made against officers.

The top cop made the statement in his evidence to the Yoorrook Justice Commission — the state’s Royal Commission into historical injustices committed against Aboriginal people — after he was asked if there is an inherent conflict of interest in having complaints against police investigated by police.

“Of recent months my position has moved somewhat in that irrespective of how much I think that an investigation will be conducted with integrity and the vast majority of them are... the fact of the matter is the aboriginal community and other members within the community will never have the confidence that it has been impartially conducted,” he said.

“So my view is I am completely open to any framework of oversight or investigation that government wishes to bring in.”

Under questioning about Tommy Lovett — an Aboriginal teenager who was mistakenly arrested by police with unnecessary force — Yoorrook commissioner Travis Lovett (no relation) asked if police oversight could be strengthened with an independent process.

Mr Patton said: “I do now.”

“If government ask me for advice on it I’ll certainly give them advice that Victoria Police is open to operating with any external oversight body or framework they put in place.”

The comments came after Mr Patton offered an historic formal apology to Indigenous people on behalf of the force for enforcing discriminatory policies causing trauma experienced by First Nations people.

It is believed to be the first ever formal apology on behalf of the state’s police.

Mr Patton said he was sorry for police actions “that have caused or contributed to the trauma experienced by so many Aboriginal families in our jurisdiction”.

“I know Victoria Police has caused harm in the past and unfortunately continues to do so in the present,” he said.

“As an organisation, we continue to make necessary changes and improvements and it is a firm requirement of mine that we will continue to strive to do.

“As Chief Commissioner, and on behalf of Victoria Police, I formally and unreservedly apologise for police actions that have caused or contributed to the trauma experienced by so many Aboriginal families in our jurisdiction.”

He also apologised for the removal of children from their families from 1890 through to 1957.

“I cannot begin to imagine the profound distress that the forcible separation of children from their families would have caused and that continues to be felt,” he said.

“I am sincerely sorry that this has occurred to Aboriginal people. It should not have happened.”

Earlier, Mr Patton accepted a shield — a cultural artefact depicting elements of First Peoples’ laws, customs and totems — from the five commissioners, chaired by Wergaia/Wamba Wamba Elder Eleanor Bourke.

She told the police chief it was not a gift, but a reminder of the “change” the commission intends to spark. It’s expected the shield will hang in the office of the chief commissioner.

“It is a symbol of an expectation from the commission,” she said.

Professor Bourke acknowledged Mr Paton’s apology and said “it is important that your words are now on the public record”.

“Since the very beginning, Victoria Police has been the main arm of the Victorian Government. The Colonial Government carried out forced occupation of our home lands, and the destruction of our families,” she said.

“The systemic racism, racist attitudes and discriminatory actions of police over the last 170 years … has been perpetuated with the intent of making us – First Peoples – disappear.”