Thank you for signing the petition by doing that you are helping action toward changing the system for vulnerable ones like our children of any age - the more you share on your facebook or other platforms will help bring more signatures toward the changes in the system we need for those with disabilities to give them justice and equality in society when they suffer injuries inflicted by others.

The matter is now being looked at by the Federal Minister of disabilities and was passed on from NSW Minister of disabilities but the petition will be the most powerful way of impacting our government the more people sign it now needs to be Australia wide.

I found out that in the past it has always been the way the justice system has worked is that there is no investigation for those with disabilities even with evidence that has been given, so cameras are the only way to force that investigating or else there is no deterrence.

"Unless there are actual criminal responses to violence against people with disability, you are not going to see the level of deterrence that exists for the rest of the community.

We know that perpetrators will target those who they can get away with targeting and, unless access to justice is addressed across the board, that will remain the case"  ( Productivity Commission 2014"Access to Justice arrangements" p.133)


Based on my experience of what has happened to my son the justice system is failing the vulnerable persons of our communities -

1 By not having strong enough laws to protect those who are vulnerable and cannot speak- the law should make it mandatory for Police to investigate any assault or abuse incident involving a vulnerable person a victim. They are at present refusing to make criminal investigations no matter what amount of evidence and tend to leave it to the organizations of 'care' who often cover up what has happened.

2 The police did not do right by my son, they did not meet him to see what had happened to him, did not follow up my initial complaint of an assault to my son, and they refused to question the worker involved, the inspectors saying that she was "a young girl" "she made a mistake and probably lied to cover it up".

They also did not take notice of the doctors report but said maybe James fell, or had an accident.
However if she did assault my son it was more than a mistake.

    The organization of care itself failed in duty of care for my son and failed to report the incident, so I forced them to write an incident report.

In conclusion the police failed to protect my son,and future vulnerable persons that worker would be involved with, by refusing to investigate the incident properly.
This indicates a discrimination toward those with disabilities, through the lack of action by the police and unwillingness to investigate.

Noted by VEOHRC Beyond Doubt p.15
"Police often treat reports of violence, abuse and neglect experienced by people with disability differently to people without disability. There is the perception that the person with disability is already being 'cared' for in an institutional or residential setting, even when the violence, abuse and neglect has been reported as occurring in that facility.
....there is an assumption that the facility deals with people with disability and that it is not a police matter."

Noted also by the Disability Alliance (2015) that "when incidents are reported the people with disability are not supported by the police to seek further investigation or conviction in relation to reports of violence, abuse or neglect."

they further state " In most cases, these investigations did not proceed due to a perceived lack of evidence...or(lack of) credibility of witnesses with disability" In order to protect our most vulnerable of society we need security cameras in places of care and accommodation for disability persons.

Without security cameras there will never be enough evidence for police or to prove, prosecute or punish those who hurt the vulnerable persons who cannot speak up for themselves or defend themselves from assaults or abuse.

The government is failing to do the job of protecting vulnerable persons and our children without cameras to use as a deterrent to those who could hurt them.,   The police are also failing to protect and serve the community of vulnerable persons and the distress of their families through this lack of follow-up, action, and justice.

Tell as many as you can about the petition!   We as parents need to help each other protect our children and the vulnerable persons in our lives, families and neighbourhoods

all the best

Anndrea Wheatley