More than
40 officers were injured after being pelted with rocks, bricks and petrol bombs
during several hours of violence in the troubled suburb on February 15, 2004.
It was sparked after the death of Thomas “TJ” Hickey, who died that
day after crashing his bicycle and becoming impaled on a fence.
In a
decision handed down in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission yesterday,
Justice Roger Boland fined the force $100,000.
It had
pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of
its employees under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The agreed facts
show 42 officers sustained various injuries ranging from psychological damage
to bruising, cuts and abrasions.
One officer
was knocked unconscious after being struck by a brick on the helmet.
WorkCover
said police were left exposed without adequate equipment and a lack of
training. The equipment had defects including scratched helmet visors, and
handles broken on shields.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/forces-100000-riot-fine/2007/06/07/1181089242169.html