Fwd: AUS.: Police new deal for gays and lesbians.
Michael McPhail
Issue Date: 12th February, 1999
(Audited Circulation 16,080)
E-mail: m...@bluestone.com.au
Telephone: + 61-3-9926-1110
Fax.: + 61-3-9926-1199
P O Box 205
Fitzroy
Vic 3065
Australia
Police new deal for gays and lesbians.
by Ran Bell and Michael Roche
Victoria's Police Chief Neil Comrie is holding out the olive branch to
Victorian gays and lesbians in an attempt to bridge the gap created by
the 1996 'Tasty' [gay/lesbian night-club] raid.
[Patrons were illegally detained for several hours and publicly strip
searched for drugs. Later court action resulted in huge damages being
awarded against the Victorian Police].
At the launch of a equity and diversity program last week, Comrie
admitted that police relations with the gay and lesbian community had
been "strained" in the past and announced the creation of a Diversity
Management position to deal with the issue.
"The force clearly recognises that a person's sexual preference has no
bearing on their ability to do a job and this strategy will aim to
safeguard equitable treatment for gay and lesbian members of Victoria
Police," he said.
Comrie's views are in marked contrast to the attitudes of [State] Police
Minister Bill McGrath. In 1997 McGrath said he was not comfortable with
the idea of gays and lesbians in the police force.
Inspector Jill Wood, a spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian Police
Employee Network (GALPEN), said she was excited about the direction
the Victorian Police force is heading and described Neil Comrie's
announcement as 'the best news I've had since being in the police
force.' And, in a first for the Victorian police force, the hierarchy
sanctioned a uniformed GALPEN presence at last Sunday's 'Midsumma'
Carnival.
Some gay police, however, believe the new program fails to address the
issue of gay and lesbian recruitment. The NSW police force has, in the
past three years, targeted the gay and lesbian community through
recruitment campaigns using the gay press. "This is a token gesture,"
said one senior sergeant who asked not to be identified. He also said
Victoria had few gay and lesbian contact officers unlike NSW which has
over a hundred. The senior sergeant, who is openly gay, said he had been
victim of rumour campaigns. 'False rumours have been circulated that
I've been warned for wearing make-up and walking down the street holding
another policeman's hand." he said.
Anthony Klvac, a former constable with the Victorian Police, said some
members suffer from the male-dominated culture of the force.
'The atmosphere at a police station is a bit like at the football club,'
said Klvac. 'The values within the force are very much a boys' club
mentality and women do struggle in it." With women only making up 14 per
cent of Victorian police officers, Jill Wood conceded that much work
needs to be done to change the force's male-centric ethos. 'Of course it
still has a male-dominated atmosphere about it,' Wood said.
'There are going to be some police officers that are homophobic, but for
most it doesn't worry them.'
Janet Jukes, from the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, said she
often hears reports of police misconduct towards gays and lesbians.
'Recently we heard two such reports,' Jukes said. 'But many gays and
lesbians feel intimidated to make complaints.'
Jukes welcomed Neil Comrie's recommendations and said the current
climate may be conducive for making complaints.
'We will never change the system if we don't make complaints,' Jukes
said. Jukes said complaints should be made directly to the Victorian
Police. If the complaint is not dealt with adequately, it should then
be directed to the Equal Opportunity Commission or the Police Ombudsman.
[Victoria Police: http://www.police.vic.gov.au/public.htm
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