Last week a group of young men from Euphrates Avenue came to 7NEWS complaining that they had been brutally and needlessly beaten by police with a vehicle's fan belt. The father of three of the young men told us that he understands what the police are doing but highlighted that the punishment was not fair to all involved. Today the Commissioner of Police justified the action, he explained that that's how it was in his days.
Gerald Westby, Commissioner of Police
"When I was growing up they always had a saying it takes a village to raise a child. when I was growing up, each family or neighbor used to help raise the kids and my understanding was that the parents had consented to try to help. Mr. Jeffries has been out there counseling and supporting so again that is what I have to say about it."
Alfonso Noble,
The father of the three young men who were beaten came to us and said he gave no consent with regards to this type of punishment.
Gerald Westby,
"I don't know, that is what he is saying and I wouldn't want to comment further on it."
