Tomago – Maitland Police / Port Stephens Council

PS: We Love You for encouraging homophobia

Feb 2012 – We wish to thank Port Stephens Council for erecting signage that directs people to contact police and/or council after hours – 0408 493 376 – to report anti-social behaviour or vandalism in the area.

If you encounter any anti-social behaviour or vandalism – which includes dumping and burning of vehicles, dumping of waste materials, harassment and bullying by council staff and cleaners, harassment from vigilante residents and youths, and any other hate-related crimes… immediately contact police – 000 – or the council to report the incident.

Homophobic harassment and bullying by council staff and cleaners is unacceptable… if you’re bullied, ask for their name and to see identification – if they refuse, note the date/time and vehicle registration – this will assist you to identify them.

Please REPORT any incidents with council staff and cleaners.

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September 15 — reports that police continue to target and intimidate men – please be careful — REPORT

August 31 — we continue to receive reports of increased police activity in the area.

officers are actively targeting men — they will approach you and record your personal/vehicle details… they may also perform a background check and look for other reasons to intimidate you.

officers cannot record your details simply for being in the area – please be careful — REPORT any incidents.

 

you have every right to be in the area — it is not against the law

 

if you’re approached and have a negative experience with officers…

  • take a deep breath, remain calm and be polite… anything you do and say may be used against you
  • note the date/time
  • note anything officers do and say to you… officers cannot make assumptions about what you’re doing in the area and/or accuse you of anything – if they do, don’t react
  • ask for the officer/s full name, rank and station — officers must identify themselves on approach, and their identification must be clearly displayed at all time… you’re also allowed to ask if they don’t tell you
  • don’t respond if officers try to provoke you with an inappropriate and/or homophobic comment … politely ask for their name, rank and station and advise the officer you will be making a complaint – walk away and move to safety

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April – we continue to monitor reports about activity by maitland police and council workers.

be aware that the cleaners have been very rude to any male person who is around the toilet when they’re there to clean them… this has been going on for some time. it’s best to avoid the area if you see cleaners.

be aware that maitland police officers are approaching men at tomago and telling them ‘this will go on your cops report’

Please advise us immediately – either REPORT or send us an EMAIL.

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January 15, 2011 – 11pm — report of police driving recklessly and potentially putting men in harms way.
all of a sudden a car came flying into the park driveway and headed for the the toilet block, thankfully i was not walking around as i would gotten run over. the police car hit a large hole near the toilet block and bottomed out, i thought it was going to crash.
they did come to a stop… then they drove around with the spot light on, not coming too close so i couldn’t get the rego number. then off they went towards williamtown like a bat out of hell.

tomago beat last night standing  next to my car talking with another guy at 11pm 15/01/2011.  all of a sudden a car came fly into the park driveway and headed for the the toilet block . thank fully i was not walking around as i would gotten ran over, the policecar  hit a large hole near the toilet block and bottomed out , i thought it was going to crash.they did come to a stop … then they drove around with the spot light on, not coming to close so i couldnt get an rego number. then off they went towards william like a bat out of hell.

We have received reports that Crime Prevention strategies are being implemented in the Tomago area, and that most of the trees have been removed. Please continue to be careful and report any incident with officers from Maitland Police and/or vigilante behaviour.

‘Fuck Off out of here!’

We’ve received reports that Maitland Police officers have significantly increased their presence at beats in the Maitland area, and have been approaching men in an aggressive and offensive manner.

At Williamtown, a man was told to ‘Fuck Off out of here!’ by officers… Clearly, these comments and actions are unacceptable and highlight serious misconduct and homophobia within the NSW Police Force – remind officers that such comments are a hate-related crime.

Please Be very careful.

We will continue to monitor activity by officers from Maitland Police, who’ve significantly increased their presence at Tomago and Williamtown, and are being very aggressive — please approach with caution and report any incident immediately.

 

Saturday August 28, 12am — Police Vehicle 4WD Pajero (Rego – BE 79 JM) — a male and female officer were observed harassing men.

It’s been reported that officers are telling men their details are being ‘entered on the system’, and in some cases, that they’ve been ‘seen’ in the area before — we note that it is not against the law to be in the area – no matter how many times you’re approached by officers… officers cannot record your personal details simply because you were in an area that is a ‘known’ beat.

Please also be aware that staff from the Detention Centre have been observed approaching the back fence to see if anyone is parked in the area and calling police.

At Williamtown, a man was told to ‘Fuck Off out of here!’ by officers from Maitland police. Clearly, these comments and actions are unacceptable and highlight serious misconduct and homophobia within the NSW Police Force.