Excerpt from the National Indigenous Times:
Legal and Human Rights groups are urging the rejection or amendment of new ‘wanding’ knife laws being debated in New South Wales parliament this week, arguing they will give police “extraordinary” powers.
The new laws, which the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) NSW/ACT have previously labelled “rushed,” propose allowing police to stop and search people for weapons – without reasonable suspicion or a warrant – in a move ostensibly designed to crack down on youth crime.
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Public Interest Advocacy Centre chief executive Jonathon Hunyor said there was a large swathe of evidence showing extended police powers do not result in safer communities.
“These laws will subject already over-policed communities to further targeting and harassment. That only builds distrust,” he said, arguing funding should be directed towards community-driven diversion programs.
“Why throw more money into failed law and order responses? Our communities deserve better,” Mr Hunyor said.