Comments on: Theophanous no match for Vic police offensive http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/28/theophanous-no-match-for-vic-police-offensive/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The Colonel http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/28/theophanous-no-match-for-vic-police-offensive/#comment-20382 The Colonel Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20382 Spoken like a true f***ing lawyer Tom McLoughlin !. Remind me never to employ you if I'm ever on a criminal charge. The police are quite vile they way they use the media and whip up the general public. Where the hell have you been ?. Obviously not in court-I;ve heard dolts of magistrates almost quoting from the Daily Telegraph and stating "the public is clamouing etc etc". The bare facts are all the public is entitled to. Spoken like a true f***ing lawyer Tom McLoughlin !. Remind me never to employ you if I’m ever on a criminal charge. The police are quite vile they way they use the media and whip up the general public. Where the hell have you been ?. Obviously not in court-I;ve heard dolts of magistrates almost quoting from the Daily Telegraph and stating “the public is clamouing etc etc”. The bare facts are all the public is entitled to.

]]> By: Peter Maywald http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/28/theophanous-no-match-for-vic-police-offensive/#comment-20383 Peter Maywald Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20383 I could not agree more with the sentiments in this article by Greg Barns. I think it is disgraceful that the police are providing obvious tip-offs to the media about investigations and raids. All too often we see live footage of the arrests of "terror suspects" or high profile persons, even on SBS and ABC, who should know better. Whatever hapened to the presumption of innocence? We in Norfolk Island were shocked to see TV cameras filming the arrest by AFP members of a man in NZ who was later charged with murder. The viewing public were aware of this arrest even before the investigating Norfolk Island police were informed. Police are employed to uphold the law and to maintain the highest standards of integrity, not to become second-rate TV personalities in tacky live crime news stories. I could not agree more with the sentiments in this article by Greg Barns. I think it is disgraceful that the police are providing obvious tip-offs to the media about investigations and raids. All too often we see live footage of the arrests of “terror suspects” or high profile persons, even on SBS and ABC, who should know better. Whatever hapened to the presumption of innocence? We in Norfolk Island were shocked to see TV cameras filming the arrest by AFP members of a man in NZ who was later charged with murder. The viewing public were aware of this arrest even before the investigating Norfolk Island police were informed. Police are employed to uphold the law and to maintain the highest standards of integrity, not to become second-rate TV personalities in tacky live crime news stories.

]]> By: Tom McLoughlin http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/28/theophanous-no-match-for-vic-police-offensive/#comment-20384 Tom McLoughlin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20384 Fair enough Col, though I a have been arrested 6 times on public interest campaigns and no convictions yet, several court hearings/judgements. Your views are noted as misconceived as they are. Perhaps you might re read my comment.<br /><br />It is true to say I don't hate the police. I don't find that a useful approach to civil liberties and administration of justice issues.<br /><br />Anyway I'm on a conditional certificate and unemployed so I couldn't represent you anyway. Fair enough Col, though I a have been arrested 6 times on public interest campaigns and no convictions yet, several court hearings/judgements. Your views are noted as misconceived as they are. Perhaps you might re read my comment.

It is true to say I don’t hate the police. I don’t find that a useful approach to civil liberties and administration of justice issues.

Anyway I’m on a conditional certificate and unemployed so I couldn’t represent you anyway.

]]> By: The Colonel http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/28/theophanous-no-match-for-vic-police-offensive/#comment-20385 The Colonel Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20385 the police in Vic and NSW are an absolute disgrace in the way they use the media-many police media workers would be snapped up by soapie stars as excellent publicists. Toss in a few pollies like the quite vile former NSW premier Bob Carr, whose absolute ignorance of the rights of an accused wa san abomination (I hope Macquarie Bank are having second thoughts about employing this scumbag in the present finacial climate)-and an accused person is up against it.<br /><br />Once accused., a person is up against the might of the state with unlimited funding ,unless very rich and sadly this is beginning to reflect the USA scene were wealth can decide whther a murderer goes free or not ( OJ ?). The rest are left to public defenders or as in NSW , a decimated legal aid service where they decide on your lawyer-not you unless you are rich. Whlst all lawyers no doubt give their best it is still a 2 tiered system.<br /><br />Theophanous' case reeks of dirty tactics and there shoud be atimelimit on these sex based accusations. Now that it's become like winning th elottery for accusers (not one of whom ever gives back compo to help others), It's the easiest claim to make. the police in Vic and NSW are an absolute disgrace in the way they use the media-many police media workers would be snapped up by soapie stars as excellent publicists. Toss in a few pollies like the quite vile former NSW premier Bob Carr, whose absolute ignorance of the rights of an accused wa san abomination (I hope Macquarie Bank are having second thoughts about employing this scumbag in the present finacial climate)-and an accused person is up against it.

Once accused., a person is up against the might of the state with unlimited funding ,unless very rich and sadly this is beginning to reflect the USA scene were wealth can decide whther a murderer goes free or not ( OJ ?). The rest are left to public defenders or as in NSW , a decimated legal aid service where they decide on your lawyer-not you unless you are rich. Whlst all lawyers no doubt give their best it is still a 2 tiered system.

Theophanous’ case reeks of dirty tactics and there shoud be atimelimit on these sex based accusations. Now that it’s become like winning th elottery for accusers (not one of whom ever gives back compo to help others), It’s the easiest claim to make.

]]> By: Tom McLoughlin http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/28/theophanous-no-match-for-vic-police-offensive/#comment-20386 Tom McLoughlin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-20386 Mmm, I don't have a strong view about coppers talking to the media so far. But this story reminds me of Mal Turnbull on abc conversation hour talking about Kerry Packer running the risk of contempt of the Royal Commission when he fought fire with fire, in GB's terms above. It worked for the alleged Goana too, and no contempt charge. MT implies it was a fair go after the RC leaks against Packer and all the press published the rebuttal by KP across the land.<br /><br />It also reminds of a story I clipped from the Sydney Daily Telegraph of a copper named, Adam Purcell, here in NSW being prosecuted by the PIC for it seems serial leaking to the media, but also allegedly tipping off a witness about evidence in a rape case. This ran p19 14 Jan 2009 "Sinister forces try to hide trial from the public". <br /><br />Another question: What is the proper role of the Police Media Unit? It would be good to have a clearer framework for the public to consume regarding how they deal with the various matters that come around. Just because someone has not been charged yet, is that really the only restraint? How to judge the public right to know? When does it become a self interested Big Police/Big Media political agenda for more budget and perks and influence rather than simply valid public interest? It's a tricky area all too grey for comfort. Mmm, I don’t have a strong view about coppers talking to the media so far. But this story reminds me of Mal Turnbull on abc conversation hour talking about Kerry Packer running the risk of contempt of the Royal Commission when he fought fire with fire, in GB’s terms above. It worked for the alleged Goana too, and no contempt charge. MT implies it was a fair go after the RC leaks against Packer and all the press published the rebuttal by KP across the land.

It also reminds of a story I clipped from the Sydney Daily Telegraph of a copper named, Adam Purcell, here in NSW being prosecuted by the PIC for it seems serial leaking to the media, but also allegedly tipping off a witness about evidence in a rape case. This ran p19 14 Jan 2009 “Sinister forces try to hide trial from the public”.

Another question: What is the proper role of the Police Media Unit? It would be good to have a clearer framework for the public to consume regarding how they deal with the various matters that come around. Just because someone has not been charged yet, is that really the only restraint? How to judge the public right to know? When does it become a self interested Big Police/Big Media political agenda for more budget and perks and influence rather than simply valid public interest? It’s a tricky area all too grey for comfort.

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