Recommendation 30
Recommendation 30 relates to police conduct following the decriminalisation of public intoxication, which came into effect on 7 November 2023. The recommendation calls for the Chief Commissioner of Police to monitor police conduct and ensure members do not use existing powers to unnecessarily take intoxicated people into custody, for government’s planned independent evaluation to be First Peoples-led and for results to be publicly available.
Victoria Police has committed to monitoring and evaluation of police conduct as part of the operationalisation of the reforms. DJCS has appointed Monash University to undertake an independent evaluation of the justice impacts of the public intoxication reforms.
Progress to date and next steps
In relation to the independent evaluation, progress to date has concentrated on its design in consultation with key Aboriginal stakeholders.
Funding has been provided to conduct a 22-month justice evaluation, with the final report to be delivered in late 2025. The evaluation involves Monash University conducting interviews, focus groups and yarning sessions across metropolitan and regional locations, including locations with and without dedicated public intoxication health services. The government supports the results of the evaluation being made public.
Work has also progressed to establish an independent and Aboriginal-led Implementation Monitoring and Oversight Group (IMOG) with five initial members appointed and work underway to setup the first meeting. The IMOG will support accountability and community oversight of reform implementation.
Governance arrangements and stakeholder consultation
Monash University co-designed its evaluation framework through a series of workshops with key stakeholders, including the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, and will continue to adapt its framework in consultation with a Community, Legal and Advocacy Services (CLAS) Committee. The CLAS Committee includes representatives from Aboriginal Justice Caucus, the Dhadjowa Foundation, Aboriginal Community Justice Panels, Djirra, Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation and Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, among other service organisations.
A core role of the IMOG will be monitoring community experiences of the reform and the new health-led services to ensure that they are achieving their aims of reducing police contact and the risks of deaths in custody, and are providing culturally safe health and social supports for Aboriginal people.
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