Australian police chief apology to indigenous people for old ‘wounds’

An Australian state police chief has made a historic apology to indigenous people who are over-represented in prisons and vowed to improve race relations.

Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said police were key participants in past wrongs against indigenous people in the state over decades, including enforcing government policies of removing mixed-race children from Aboriginal families until the 1970s.

The children are known as the Stolen Generations. Many were institutionalised, abused and neglected.

“Some of the comments I’ll be making shortly are confronting and may make some people feel uncomfortable, but I understand that truthtelling is an important part of enabling and facilitating change,” Mr Dawson said in a speech at police headquarters in Perth.

“And so today, on behalf of the Western Australian Police Force, I would like to say ‘sorry’ to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for our participation in past wrongful actions that have caused immeasurable pain and suffering.”

The apology surprised some indigenous leaders but was widely welcomed.

Western Australia has the second-highest proportion of indigenous Australians after the Northern Territory. Indigenous Australians make up only 3 per cent of the national population, but 25 per cent of the prison population.

Mr Dawson said the history of conflict between the indigenous population and police included removing children from communities, tribes from their land, violence, racism and incarceration.

“I accept that previous laws, practices and policies deeply affected the lives of Aboriginal people and that police involvement in historical events has led to mistrust in law enforcement and the damaging of our relationship,” he said.

“From this day forward and in my time as police commissioner, I will take steps to heal historical wounds between police and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

He said race relations were improving. Since police introduced an Aboriginal cadet programme in 2016, five cadets had become sworn police officers.

The state now has an indigenous-run police station in the Outback Aboriginal community of Warakuma, where the crime rate is falling, he said.

“I’m optimistic about a more positive future but today, we’re deeply sorry,” Mr Dawson said.