The risk of serious injury by police at protests is escalating

"Lawyers and activists say such encounters are representative of an increasingly dangerous use of force at protests in Australia, including the deployment of largely unregulated “less lethal” police tools including oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, baton rounds and explosive “distraction devices”.

"OC spray was used almost 900 times in NSW in the last financial year. There were at least 2,323 takedowns in NSW in the same year, 54% of them against people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.“Grab/hold/push/swarm” was the force used most by police at these incidents, recorded 640 times. There were 224 uses of OC spray or foam recorded."
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/27/like-being-stabbed-in-the-eye-the-risk-of-serious-injury-by-police-at-protests-is-escalating-experts-warn
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