New from me: internal WA police briefing shows a “notable ethnic disparity” in drivers given tickets by on-the-spot stops from police vs traffic cameras.
We’ve put the full FOI’d report online. theguardian.com/australia-news…
We’ve put the full FOI’d report online. theguardian.com/australia-news…
Aboriginal drivers received 3.2 times as many penalty units from traffic infringements from on-the-spot police-led interactions than non-Aboriginal drivers.
But Aboriginal drivers and non-Aboriginal drivers were roughy even on fines from offences caught on traffic camera.
But Aboriginal drivers and non-Aboriginal drivers were roughy even on fines from offences caught on traffic camera.
The difference, the briefing note said, was “almost entirely driven by police-initiated, on-the-spot infringements”.
WA Police said they think the metropolitan v regional divide was partly responsible for this disparity. There are fewer cameras in the regions, and if police stop someone they often issue more than one fine (speeding + seatbelts, for example).
So that could accrue more points.
So that could accrue more points.
But the report showed the trend was the same in regional areas.
And the author of the report, who had since left police, told me that while in individual cases those explications exist, the aggregate trend — from an analysis of almost 4m drivers — still exists.
And the author of the report, who had since left police, told me that while in individual cases those explications exist, the aggregate trend — from an analysis of almost 4m drivers — still exists.
Should add that WA Police were very open about this report (once they got my FOI) and offered an interview with the Assistant Commissioner who originally commissioned this research.
So I reckon some people in that building want it to go somewhere.
So I reckon some people in that building want it to go somewhere.
