Ines
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Ines has twin adult sons. One has an acquired brain injury and the other has anxiety and depression. Ines told the Royal Commission that both her sons, and she as their parent, have experienced police harassment, bullying and intimidation.
On many occasions, Ines said, the police threatened to charge her if her sons refused to admit to certain behaviour and actions.
In one instance, the police threatened to put out a warrant for the boys’ arrest because Ines was unsure of their whereabouts – she was at work at the time.
Another time, police arrested Ines, fingerprinted her and took mugshots because her sons refused to admit to stealing. Ines was falsely charged with receipt of stolen goods. An investigating officer threatened one of Ines’s sons that his mother would get a criminal record, which would put her job in jeopardy, unless he admitted to a crime he did not commit.
Ines's experience of the police and courts is that there is ‘a definite lack of understanding and knowledge of people who have a disability – particularly in regards to communication, compassion, empathy’.
She thinks there needs to be a better support service for people with disability during interviews with police and in the court environment.
‘This intimidating environment makes people with disability nervous and impedes their understanding of questions they are being asked.’
Ines attended with her son during legal proceedings but says she was not allowed to assist her son verbally when he felt overwhelmed with the questions.
She would like to see all people working in the justice system ‘be better trained in the disability sector to give them a better understanding of how people with disability live, and also the social barriers that they face on a day-to-day basis’.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.