The text on this website is an abbreviated version of the full report.

The full report is available here:Occupy Policing Full Report
25.5 MB

A smaller resolution copy of the report is available here: Occupy_Policing_reduced.pdf
2.1 MB
Occupy Policing:
A Report into the Effects and Legality of the Eviction of Occupy Melbourne from City Square on 21 October 2011

Written by: Alejandra Segue, David Adam and Rhys Aconley-Jones

Edited by: Julia Dehm, Sara Dehm and Erin Buckley

Special thanks to: Meghan Fitzgerald, Esther Bohner, David Vakalis, Mathew Wilson, Jacob Grech, Tamar Hopkins, Corey Oakley, Jessie Boylan, Kenji, David O’Brien and Oceana Setaysha

Forwards to the Report
- Councillor Cathy Oke, City of Melbourne

- Tamar Hopkins, Principal Solicitor, Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre and Convenor of the National Police Accountability Network

"This Report contributes to an important conversation about freedom of speech and public protest in the City of Melbourne. The analysis of this report and the protestor voices that it foregrounds demonstrate the critical importance of an independent inquiry into the forced eviction of Occupy Melbourne from City Square on 21 October 2011. While this Report allows us to better understand the events that occurred around the Occupy Melbourne eviction, more accountability for decisions made and actions taken by Melbourne City Council is required. It is on the record that I have previously called for an independent inquiry. I therefore welcome and reiterate the key recommendation of this report."

~ Councillor Cathy Oke,

Melbourne City Council.

"The continuing failure of Victoria’s systems of accountability to prevent, investigate, and punish police officers who abuse their powers as well as hold their commanding officers to account leaves all Victorians vulnerable to human rights abuses. The accounts set out in this pivotal report by the Occupy Melbourne Legal Support Team highlights how human rights abuses can happen to any of us. The abuses documented in this report reveal concerning conduct not just about individual officers involved in policing the protesters, but also deeply flawed decision-making from the highest level of command down.

The widespread and public inquiry called for by the Occupy Melbourne Legal Support Team to look at all levels of decision-making into the policing of the protest is not only necessary to restore the community's faith that the rule of law still operates in Victoria, but is required under international human rights law where allegations of human rights abuses have been made.

The National Police Accountability Network and the Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre endorse this report and call on the Victorian Government to implement its recommendations."

~ Tamar Hopkins

Convenor, National Police Accountability Network; and
Principal Solicitor, Flemington and Kensington Community Legal Centre

National Police Accountability Network

^{Occupy Melbourne Legal Support Team}

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