Angry Jews vent about police inaction
Stafford said at the conclusion of the forum, she was able to speak one on one with a number of community members, and those conversations were respectful and positive.
A senior Victoria Police commander was heckled by a Jewish audience at a meeting to discuss concerns about the way the Jewish community is being policed.
Priority and Safer Communities Division Commander Jo Stafford was the most senior of a group of police at the gathering at the Kilda Shule last Thursday night.
It was emotionally charged and at times angry, with several members of the community complaining that Victoria Police seemed to be doing little to rein in what they saw as intimidation by pro-Palestinian protestors.
At one point people were asked to indicate of they had seriously considered leaving Australia because of antisemitism and of the almost 200 present, three quarters raised their hand.
Organiser of the meeting, Sharon Mason said afterwards “I apologised to Jo Stafford that my speech had to be so direct in calling out police inaction in Victoria, but after seven months of police appearing to turn a blind eye to Jews being vilified and attacked, police and government need to know that the consequence is our community feeling like they are so unsafe in Victoria, they need to move”.
Afterwards, Commander Stafford said the meeting could have been better moderated, but it was clear there is significant fear within the Jewish community.
“I think there is some restorative value in giving people an opportunity to express their anger, fear and dissatisfaction with what is happening in the community at the moment. I was more than happy to absorb that anger/angst” she said.
Stafford said at the conclusion of the forum, she was able to speak one on one with a number of community members, and those conversations were respectful and positive.
“This allowed me and the other police officers to obtain a fuller appreciation of the issues and concerns and to provide reassurance that police are committed to keeping the Jewish community safe” she said.
Caulfield MP David Southwick told the meeting at the end that their feelings were valid, but the issue is political, and they shouldn’t blame the Police who have to follow the law as it is.
Southwick told the meeting that when the laws were brought in to ban the Nazi swastika and salute there were other recommendations which have been sitting on the Attorney General’s desk since last year.
“If we get those hate laws in Victoria, Police can enforce those laws” he said.
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