Violence mars `all` Qld indigenous areas

Every Queensland indigenous community has a substantial violence problem and a new
approach is needed to tackle the mayhem, a landmark report says.
The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) on Friday released a 469-page report into
policing in indigenous communities.
The report was triggered by two events - the unrest after the death in custody of
Cameron Doomadgee on Palm Island and the Aurukun riots in January 2007.
Queensland has 17 Aboriginal communities, with a total population of about 14,800
people, and there are 20 Torres Strait Islander communities with a population of
about 8,500.
"There is no indigenous community that does not have a substantial violence
problem," the report said.
The report found that despite dozens of government strategies and programs, the high
crime rate in indigenous communities had been consistent since 1995.
And the latest tool - alcohol management plans - had delivered "no clear reduction
in offence rates".
"Most crime prevention strategies remain poorly developed and piecemeal," the report
said.
"This has led to the state government's failure to make inroads in reducing
indigenous over-representation (in the justice system).
"We now need to translate the crime prevention rhetoric into reality."
It said "a high degree of community engagement and sustained support from
government, both of which are very difficult to achieve", would be needed to cut
crime.
"There is a huge role to be played by community leaders and indigenous organisations
at the community and regional level," the report said.
"Individuals, parents and families must be motivated to change aspects of their
behaviour, their values and, indeed, aspects of their culture, such as the use of
violence as an appropriate means of resolving conflict.
"Government should see its role as providing vital support and capacity building."
The key recommendations include a new police service command dedicated to indigenous
justice, led by an assistant commissioner, and better training of police officers in
indigenous culture.
It also called for local plans, developed by police and community leaders, to set
out crime prevention priorities.
The report specifically called for outstanding litigation relating to Mr Doomadgee's
death to be finalised by November 2010, the sixth anniversary of his death.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the idea of a senior officer
being in charge of all indigenous communities was unworkable.
"What police can't be expected to do is to be the solvers of all problems within the
community," he said.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has promised to consider all aspects of the report.
"I will take it very seriously, we will work through every one of those
recommendations," she told reporters in Townsville.
Ms Bligh said the alcohol management plans had had a positive effect.
Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart said the service was examining the report but
admitted that retaining staff in remote indigenous communities was a challenge.
"Many of these communities have very basic facilities, they are very isolated and
most of them are covered by alcohol management plans," Mr Stewart said.
Police resources were being boosted, he said.