Victoria Police 'deeply sorry' for its role in the Stolen Generations
Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton has issued an apology to Indigenous communities for the police force's role in the Stolen Generations.
At an event in Melbourne today, Patton said he was "deeply sorry" and pledged the force would do better.
"This apology is long overdue," he said.
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Shane Patton at the unveilling of the shield that was given to Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police earlier this month. Photograph by Chris Hopkins
The Chief Commissioner said the force accepted responsibility for the widespread harm caused by removing children from their communities over many decades.
"For over 100 years, whether on our own initiative or in assisting other agencies and organisations, Victoria Police contributed to the Stolen Generations by enforcing policies and laws," Patton said.
"Solely acknowledging past harms is not enough. Victoria Police is fully committed to continuing to implement changes and reforms to address ongoing systemic injustices for Aboriginal people.
"While we cannot change history, we can accept the harsh truth of it and learn from it, so these harms are never repeated."
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Shane Patton issued an apology to Indigenous communities for the involvement of the police force in the Stolen Generations. Photograph by Chris Hopkins
Between 1864 to 1992, Victoria Police had the power to remove what were deemed to be "neglected children" from communities and families.
An analysis in 2019 found there are more than 17,000 Stolen Generations survivors in Australia, and by 2023 all would be aged 50 or older and eligible for aged care.
"I am deeply sorry for the harm which this has caused and the harm which continues to be felt now," he said.
"I do want to acknowledge the extraordinary resilience, the diversity, the strength and the cultural survival of Aboriginal people in the face of historical harms and the legacy that persists to this day," he said.
"While we cannot change history, we can accept the harsh truth of it and learn from it, so these harms are never repeated."
For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).
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