Report into racism in NT Police Force sparked by TRG awards finds evidence of ‘historical racism’, concludes investigation be closed

Original and full article published on abc.net.au

An investigation into racism within the Northern Territory Police Force, which previously uncovered racist awards deemed too “offensive” for public release, has found no further evidence of racist behaviour in the force since 2015 and concluded the matter be closed..

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of their family. This story also contains racist and offensive language and images.

This story also contains racist and offensive language and images.

The report examined racism within the ranks of the Northern Territory Police Force. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)

The report examined racism within the ranks of the Northern Territory Police Force. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)

Allegations of racist awards handed out among members of NT police’s specialist Territory Response Group (TRG) emerged earlier this year during the high-profile coronial inquest into the 2019 police shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker.

That evidence prompted the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) and NT Police Force to start a joint investigation into racism within the force, which was criticised at the time.

Earlier in the investigation, NT ICAC Commissioner Michael Riches, who is on indefinite leave, called the TRG awards “racist” and too “offensive” to publish.

One of the certificates awarded to TRG members. (Supplied: NT Courts)

One of the certificates awarded to TRG members. (Supplied: NT Courts)

An example of the "Nugedah" Award handed out to members of the TRG in 2015. (Supplied: NT Department of Attorney-General and Justice)

An example of the “Nugedah” Award handed out to members of the TRG in 2015. (Supplied: NT Department of Attorney-General and Justice)

The investigation’s findings were published on Thursday in a report authored by ICAC delegate, former judge Patricia Kelly SC.

She found some of the TRG certificates part of the investigation were “evidently on their face racist”.

“It is difficult to conclude how any person of reasonable intelligence could conclude otherwise,” she said.

But Ms Kelly said while the investigation had uncovered “some evidence of historical racism within the police force, despite a very thorough investigation there has not been any evidence of any further racist conduct or material produced after 2015”.

She concluded the lack of recent evidence of racism meant the investigation should end.

“To a large extent this investigation has already fulfilled one of its objectives by highlighting historical evidence of racism within the TRG,” she said.

Ms Kelly said the NT Police Force had taken “positive action” to prevent racist conduct in future, citing Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s public apology at this year’s Garma Festival and the appointment of former lawyer and police officer Leanne Liddle to help combat racism within the force.

Michael Murphy used a speech at the Garma Festival in August to apologise to First Nations people for a history of "injustices" involving NT police. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

Michael Murphy used a speech at the Garma Festival in August to apologise to First Nations people for a history of “injustices” involving NT police. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

Leanne Liddle has been appointed executive director of the force's community resilience and engagement command, a unit dedicated to addressing racism. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)

Leanne Liddle has been appointed executive director of the force’s community resilience and engagement command, a unit dedicated to addressing racism. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)

She also noted the Office of the ICAC (OICAC) “does not have the resources to conduct any further wide-ranging investigation into racism within any unit of the NTPF”.

“Nor in my view, given the positive steps already taken by the NTPF is it necessary,” she said.

The report did not make any recommendations.

The report also discussed five NT police officers who, in response to the allegations of racism within the TRG made during the inquest, swore statutory declarations refuting the claims.

“In various ways, each contended that the “Nugedah” award was given to the TRG member who had acted in an unhygienic manner, however that the award had no relationship to race,” Ms Kelly said.

Commissioner Riches earlier publicly called for current and former police officers to come forward and provide information to the investigation, promising anonymity.

Michael Riches has been on leave since June this year. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly)

Michael Riches has been on leave since June this year. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly)

Michael Murphy says the police force will learn from the past. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

Michael Murphy says the police force will learn from the past. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

“The Northern Territory Police force has made and will continue to make significant strides in driving institutional change,” he said.

“We are committed to creating and delivering on a culture of safety, integrity, accountability, and professionalism.”

He said the force remained committed to maintaining public trust and ensuring any concerns raised were “thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed”.

NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the ICAC’s findings confirmed her Country Liberal Party government’s belief that there was not systemic racism within the police force.

“I think this ends a chapter which has caused great stress and destabilisation in our police force,” she said.

“We’ve always stood by our police on this issue and we continue to stand by them”.

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