http://www.smh.com.au/news/0009/15/national/national16.html Police to be feted as Bracks denies 'excessive force' By BRAD NORINGTON The Victorian Premier, Mr Bracks, will host a barbecue for about 2,000 police officers involved in the operation to break a protest blockade of the World Economic Forum, dismissing claims that they used excessive force. Mr Bracks, who has already promised the officers an extra day off, said yesterday he wanted to express his gratitude for their "outstanding" effort to guarantee the safe passage of 800 influential world business and political leaders past thousands of protesters. In a show of one-upmanship, Victoria's Opposition Leader, Dr Dennis Napthine, who was trapped in his car on the first day of the blockade, went as far as to say that police should be given a civic reception for their work. But organisers of the S11 protest said they were "astonished" that Mr Bracks could give his unqualified congratulations and even consider rewarding police for using "unlawful" force to beat back protesters. Police confirmed yesterday that an investigation would be held into the circumstances surrounding a woman being knocked down by an unmarked police car - her legs trapped under its wheels - at the forum's closure on Wednesday night. The protester, Ms Monica Brindell, was discharged from hospital yesterday after she was believed to have suffered deep soft-tissue injuries to her legs but no broken bones. Ms Brindell is considering legal action against police. The car, carrying four police officers in plain clothes, sped away after the accident. Victoria's Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Neil O'Loughlin, said the four police in the car were on duty as part of the official security operation and were trying to gain entry to the casino when their vehicle was blocked by protesters in Queensbridge Street. Mr O'Loughlin said a sergeant stepped out of the car to identify himself and explained that the four police were starting duty at the casino complex. When the police officer got back inside the car the protesters became agitated, bashing and rocking the car from side-to-side. Mr O'Loughlin said the driver tried to manoeuvre the car slowly away from the protesters. He believed the driver was unaware that a protester was lying near the front wheel, out of his vision, and drove off to another entry gate. Crown Casino reopened to gamblers yesterday and barricades to keep protesters out of the complex were removed. Victoria's police ombudsman, Dr Barry Perry, said he was considering holding an inquiry into police handling of the security operation following complaints of excessive force by protesters. Dr Perry said an inquiry would consider police planning, operational decisions and complaints about individual police. Lawyers acting for protesters claim police delivered arbitrary punishment and failed to comply with proper procedure by removing their identification badges. The secretary of Victoria's Trades Hall Council, Mr Leigh Hubbard, joined S11 organisers in condemning police actions as "the worst savagery by police in 25 years". But Mr Bracks said: "I discussed [the barbecue] with the police commissioner, Neil Comrie, yesterday ... and indicated that we'd like to have an appropriate reception at Parliament House - a barbecue with families, with the spouses and the police officers and some of the security people at Crown." He added: "The police ... did a sterling and outstanding job." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
