Brittany Riley: Lawyer says client brutalised by Tasmania Police

The lawyer for one of four women guilty of roles in a 30-person street dispute says her client was pepper sprayed three times and mistreated at the watch-house. LATEST >

Invermay woman Brittany Lee Riley, 22. Picture: Facebook

The lawyer for one of four women sentenced in court on Monday for their roles in a 30-person street confrontation says her client was pepper-sprayed three times, including while prone on the ground, then made to strip in front of three male officers at the watch-house.

Tasmania Police has confirmed an internal investigation by Professional Standards into the allegations is under way.

Brittany Lee Riley, 22, was placed on a 12-month good-behaviour bond by Launceston Magistrate Evan Hughes on Monday after pleading guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct. No conviction was recorded.

The court previously heard her offending occurred in the context of a drunken, early morning dispute between two groups of 15 people at Castlemain Rd, Ravenswood on January 8, spilling onto Prossers Forest Rd.

Riley’s mum and aunt were also sentenced for acting out during the police intervention, as was a fourth woman.

Speaking in court on Monday, Riley’s defence lawyer Jessica Stewart said her client’s alleged “treatment by police is subject to a complaint being handled by my office”.

Her client, who she admitted was intoxicated, was allegedly the “subject of physical force, (including by) pushing her and yelling”.

Riley was allegedly pepper-sprayed three times, “including while on the ground,” Ms Stewart said.

She further alleged that when at the watch-house, Riley was required to strip naked and change her clothes in the ‘cage’, while a male officer was “staring directly at her,” with another two male officers present.

Riley was remanded for approximately three hours in total, Ms Stewart said.

Police prosecutor Mr Collins told the court it was “not the forum” for him to reply to the allegations.

In a statement, Tasmania Police confirmed an internal investigation into the allegations was under way by Professional Standards.

“A complaint was made to police and has been assessed and assigned to Northern District for further inquiry,” a representative said.

“As this matter is subject to the scrutiny of the court, any findings or comments made by the magistrate in respect to the police action during the arrest will be taken into account as part of the inquiry.”

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When sentencing Riley, Mr Hughes said he took her alleged mistreatment into account, as well as her lack of criminal history, in deciding to hand down a bond.

The incident at Ravenswood occurred just a few months before an unrelated allegation of heavy-handed police conduct, involving a residential tenancy dispute at West Launceston.

That allegation was found to be substantiated. An officer was counselled, while another left the service before any disciplinary action could occur.