Forgotten Indigenous Children and Mothers Finally Getting Some Help

Police launch abuse probe in Murchison 

15th May 2009, 6:00 WST

Police have launched an investigation into child abuse, sexual assaults and domestic violence in Murchison-Gascoyne Aboriginal communities. 
   
Health workers' concerns about an "under-detection" of sexually transmitted infections among children under 14 around Mullewa compared with some Kimberley towns triggered the probe. 
   
Det-Sen. Sgt Gordon Fairman, from the child abuse squad, said police compared crime data between the regions and found "noticeably lower" rates of detection and reporting of child abuse, sex assaults and domestic violence in Murchison towns. 
   
"We also checked property crime data to ensure reporting mechanisms were in place and we found those type of crimes were being reported at a rate you believe would be appropriate," he said. "We don't know if sexual and domestic assaults are a problem in the Gascoyne, but all of our experience tells us that we should have been investigating more allegations." 
   
Gascoyne Aboriginal leader Lionel Quartermaine, who lives in Carnarvon, said there were problems of drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence in the region. 
   
"But like any investigations in black or white communities there needs to be support for the people making complaints," he said. Mr Quartermaine called for alcohol bans in some Gascoyne communities. 
   
Sen. Sgt Fairman said the campaign was not a Kimberley-style crackdown, conceding there had been criticism of the blitz in the North-West. 
   
"There were some successes but we learnt some lessons and for this operation we have a long-term plan with the Health Department and child protection staff to build trust in the communities," he said. "If we get any information a child is in danger, we will swoop but otherwise we want to slowly build intelligence." 
   
Adults Surviving Child Abuse spokeswoman Michelle Stubbs said she backed the police effort to establish relationships in the towns. "This should improve the level of reporting," she said. But she wanted counselling and social services included. 
   
Sen. Sgt Fairman said over the next year police would visit regularly the communities of Cue, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet, Mullewa, Sandstone, Yalgoo and Pia Wadjari. 
   
Police hope to eventually visit all 298 indigenous communities in regional WA.

GABRIELLE KNOWLES