WA Aboriginal Legal Service says police detention of teenagers in crime diversion program is ‘completely unacceptable’

An Indigenous leader in Western Australia has claimed at-risk children have been left “traumatized” after police arrested three teenage boys taking part in a program designed to keep them out of trouble.

Detectives attended Wadjak Northside Aboriginal Community Center in Perth’s northern suburbs on Thursday and arrested three 16-year-old boys, charging them with a string of offences.

WA Aboriginal Legal Service (ALSWA) chief executive Wayne Nannup claimed the arrests took place in front of children attending a session of a federal government-funded program aimed at diverting children from the criminal justice system.

Mr Nannup told the ABC that about a dozen police officers arrived at the Old Ways New Ways meeting to arrest three boys.

He said the incident was “disturbing” and distressed and traumatized other participants and staff who were present.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable to me on every level to be dealing with this when we’re trying to create a program that will help the community and get kids out of the (justice) system, it’s just incredible,” he said. .

Mr Nannup said police could have approached the matter differently.

“It takes a lot of work to gain the trust of these kids, and now we have to take three, four steps back again,” he said.

Children accused of theft

WA Police said on Friday morning they had charged three boys with a total of 20 offenses following an investigation into burglaries in Perth over the past two months.

Two of the juveniles were charged with aggravated burglary and theft of a motor vehicle, while the third was charged with attempted aggravated burglary.

While police did not say how many officers were involved, they said body-worn camera footage of the incident had been reviewed and “it was clear that the officers acted calmly and professionally.”

“No formal complaint has been received regarding this incident.”

Mr Nannup said despite the alleged offences, it was neither the time nor the place for the children to be arrested at the meeting.

“Some of the other young boys in the program were visibly distressed,” he said.

“This is their experience now; they will think only their peers or their brothers were handcuffed.

“They need to feel safe coming to our program and we felt like that had been significantly disrupted.

“This program has had a setback, but we’ll continue to focus on it. Our little kids need it.”

The child was released from custody

One of the accused boys appeared in the Perth Children’s Court on Friday and was granted bail after pleading guilty to multiple counts of aggravated burglary and theft.

The court heard the 16-year-old from Ballajura had been attending the Old Ways New Ways program for the past three weeks and was “doing well”.

Judge Stephen Vose told the court that when considering whether to release him from custody, he had to weigh the potential benefits of the child remaining in the program against the need to protect the public.

“If someone makes an effort, even if it’s belated, that means a lot to me.

“There is always hope, people can and do change… you have taken some steps in the right direction.”

Judge Vose said he took into account the child’s progress in the program as well as the fact that the crimes were not violent.

He instructed the boy to continue his diversionary program and resist peer pressure to reoffend.

“If you have people in your life who are pulling you down, you’re going to have to keep your distance,” he said.

‘Not an ideal situation’

WA Premier Roger Cook said he wanted more information about what was happening.

“My understanding is that (the police) were unaware of the situation of the people gathered there, but I will continue to investigate further and find out what is going on here,” he said.

“My concern is about the young people who participate in that program.

“These programs are important because we know that distraction works… and we know that if we can direct young people to a better path, they won’t have constant contact with our justice system.

“This is not an ideal situation.”

The Old Ways New Ways program is described on its website as “an alternative model to youth diversion that will help change the tide on youth detention.”

“It will provide innovative, evidence-based and culturally safe services that will surround young people and their families in a centralized hub environment, supporting young people and guiding them on a healing path away from the criminal justice system.”

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