Victoria Police used non-lethal weapons for the first time against anti-lockdown protesters on August 21 in the CBD. Video footage shows police deploying rounds of pepper spray projectiles and canisters into the crowd.
聽said on August 22 that photo and video evidence indicated that the weapon used was most likely the VKS Pepper Ball firearm (or similar), which the police bought as part of the state government鈥檚 .
These semi-automatic rifles can fire capsicum rounds, blunt force pellets the size of marbles, or dye markers that 鈥渂rand people for arrest later鈥.
MALS said that the video evidence showed that baton round launchers were fired around Queen Victoria Market.
These weapons fire different kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs), including rubber or plastic bullets. MALS has not yet ascertained what ammunition was used on protesters.
These pellets, and other types of KIPs, can聽聽depending on where they hit the body. 鈥淭he inherent inaccuracy, potential for misuse, and the significant associated injuries of these types of weaponry make them inappropriate for use in public order policing and crowd control settings鈥, MALS said.
Socialist Alliance spokesperson Sue Bolton told聽91自拍论坛 that the party opposes police use of such weapons at any rally. 鈥淲hile we聽support聽public health measures to contain and eliminate transmission of COVID-19, and we聽do聽not support anti-lockdown protests, the use of these new weapons represents a dangerous escalation of police powers.鈥
Bolton, who is a Moreland councillor, is also the party鈥檚 candidate in the federal seat of Wills.
鈥淰ictoria Police have a track record of taking advantage of unpopular protests, or protests they can get away with vilifying, to justify the need for greater powers and more dangerous weapons鈥, Bolton said.
She said Victoria Police have been advised by United States and British forces, where the trend is towards greater militarisation. 鈥淭here is a danger of Victoria Police normalising the use of these 鈥榥on-lethal鈥, but very dangerous, weapons鈥, Bolton said.
Police do not have unrestrained power to use weapons against the public. Any force must be 鈥渞easonable, necessary and proportionate鈥 to the threat faced, according to the聽聽2011 report聽Upholding Our Rights: Towards Best Practice in Police Use of Force.
State Liberal and Labor governments have delivered police more powers and more lethal weapons, including the Daniel Andrews government bringing in the聽.
The Labor government supported police violence against unarmed protesters at the Blockade IMARC (International Mining and Resources Conference)聽protest in Melbourne in 2019, where聽major mining and resources companies were meeting federal government ministers.
Bolton said聽progressives and unions 鈥渕ust condemn the use of these weapons鈥, otherwise 鈥減olice will get away with normalising their use鈥 against picket lines and other protests. 鈥淓ven the presence of such weapons will intimidate and deter people from attending protest rallies.
鈥淭he militarisation of police is a disturbing new development. It is yet another way in which governments can deter people from exercising their democratic rights to assemble and exercise free speech.鈥
[You can help the Wills campaign by getting in touch on 0413 377 978 or emailing victoria@socialist-alliance.org.]