The Policing of Right‐Wing Violence in Australia1

[1] A modified version of this paper was presented at the XIII World Congress of Criminology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 10–15 August 2003.

Abstract

The paper examines trends in the policing of right‐wing violence in Australia. It describes and assesses the threat of violence from explicit right‐wing organizations, and outlines developments in the ‘hate’ crime phenomenon. The paper identifies several of the communities in Australia most vulnerable to such crime, such as the Indigenous community and in recent years members of the Islamic community. The paper explains and critiques national and local legislative and law enforcement responses to crimes of hate and violence based on racist and other discriminatory sentiments. It concludes by advocating a commitment by police services to a human rights enforcement ethic which renders intolerable the victimization of vulnerable communities by crimes motivated through hate.

Keywords:

• Right‐Wing Violence
• Racist Violence
• Hate Crimes
• Anti‐Semitism
• Policing of Hatred
• Ethical Police Decision‐Making

Notes

[1] A modified version of this paper was presented at the XIII World Congress of Criminology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 10–15 August 2003.

[2] 2.2 ‘Politically Motivated Violence’ means:

a.	acts or threats of violence or unlawful harm that are intended or likely to achieve a political objective, whether in Australia or elsewhere, including acts or threats carried on for the purpose of influencing the policy or acts of a government, whether in Australia or elsewhere;
b.	acts that: (i) involve violence or are intended or are likely to involve or lead to violence (whether by the persons who carry on those acts or by other persons); and (ii) are directed to overthrowing or destroying, or assisting in the overthrow or destruction of, the government or the constitutional system of government of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory;
c.	acts that are offences punishable under the Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978, the Crimes (Hijacking of Aircraft) Act 1972 or the Crimes (Protection of Aircraft) Act 1973; or
d.	acts that (i) are offences punishable under the Crimes (Internationally Protected Persons) Act 1976; or (ii) threaten or endanger any person or class of persons specified by the Minister for the purposes of this sub‐paragraph by notice in writing given to the Director‐General (Commonwealth Attorney‐General, n.d.).

[3] 3.13: Intelligence gathered by ASIO in relation to PMV could be valuable in assisting a police force in preventing the commission of criminal offences or in effectively resolving their investigations. Investigating criminal offences after the event, is, however, primarily a police function (Commonwealth Attorney‐General, n.d.).

[4] The organization has now changed its name to the Australasian Police Multicultural Advisory Bureau; this paper persists with the old name as many of the source documents appear under that title.