NCJ Number
53991
Date Published
1978
Length
37 pages
Annotation
POLICE SPECIAL BRANCH RECORDKEEPING IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, IS DETAILED. RECORDS KEPT BY THE BRANCH ARE IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING CARDS, DOSSIERS, MONTHLY REPORTS, INCIDENT FILES, AND PHOTOGRAPHS.
Abstract
VISITS WERE MADE IN 1978 TO INSPECT RECORDS OF THE BRANCH USING THE FOLLOWING METHODS: A 2-PERCENT SAMPLE OF ALL CARDS, ALL RECORDS IN SOME AREAS, PARTICULAR CARDS (FOR EXAMPLE, TRADE UNIONISTS, RELIGIOUS FIGURES, STATE POLITICIANS, MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, AND PEOPLE ACTIVE IN SOCIAL ISSUES), FILES THAT APPEARED TO ILLUSTRATE A CROSS-SECTION OF RECORDKEEPING, AND RECORDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD ASKED THAT THEIR FILES BE INSPECTED. ALMOST 35 PERCENT OF THE CARDS SAMPLED AND A LARGE NUMBER OF DOSSIERS WERE CONCERNED WITH COMMUNISM. THE GENERAL CATEGORY OF SOCIAL ACTION GROUPS INCLUDED CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANIZATIONS, PEACE MOVEMENTS, ANTIRACIST GROUPS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORGANIZATIONS, RESIDENT ACTION GROUPS, PRISON REFORM GROUPS, AND WOMEN'S LIBERATION ORGANIZATIONS. INFORMATION WAS ALSO MAINTAINED ON ETHNIC GROUPS, TRADE UNIONS, RIGHT WING INDIVIDUALS, ACTIVIST GROUPS, AND THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY. SOURCES OF INFORMATION INVOLVED INFORMATION GATHERED FROM PUBLIC SECTOR BODIES, INFORMATION COLLECTED AS PART OF THE POLICE FUNCTION, AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM GENERAL PUBLICATIONS. THE DISSEMINATION OF AND ACCESS TO RECORDS IS ASSESSED IN TERMS OF EXTERNAL ACCESS, INFORMAL ACCESS, EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSING, AND GOVERNMENT. THE PRIVACY OF INFORMATION ISSUE IS DISCUSSED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SPECIAL BRANCH, THE PREVENTION OF CALCULATED POLITICAL VIOLENCE, INDIVIDUAL SURVEILLANCE, THE CONTROL OF DISORDERS, AND DEFENSE MATTERS. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE RECORDKEEPING WHILE ASSURING PRIVACY AND PRESERVING EVIDENCE RELATED TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE OFFERED. AN INFORMATION COLLECTION FORM IS INCLUDED. (DEP)