The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and law firm Maurice Blackburn have commenced a class action on behalf of young people falsely imprisoned by NSW police because of wrong bail information.

Register your interest in joining the class action. Visit the Facebook page or call (02) 8898 6517.

Pictured: Musa Konneh (centre) with PIAC Acting Principal Solicitor, Vavaa Mawuli (left) and Maurice Blackburn principal, Ben Slade.

8 June 2011. Falsely imprisoned children commence class action 

Hundreds of young people falsely imprisoned by NSW police because of out-of-date bail information are expected to join a class action announced today against the State of NSW.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and law firm Maurice Blackburn said today they have commenced proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court.

‘We believe that there are over 200 children and young people who have been falsely imprisoned in NSW because of a long-standing problem with the NSW police computer system,’ said Maurice Blackburn Managing Principal (NSW), Ben Slade.

‘These young people are being unjustly deprived of their liberty because police are acting on out-of-date information,’ Mr Slade said.

The class action’s lead applicant is 19-year-old Musa Konneh.

Mr Konneh was arrested and unlawfully detained in southwest Sydney in August 2010.

Acting on the basis of incorrect bail information, police detained Mr Konneh overnight. The next day the court ordered his immediate release.

PIAC Acting Principal Solicitor, Vavaa Mawuli, said Mr Konneh’s experience is all too common.

‘This problem began under the previous NSW Government. It has led to the unlawful detention of far too many children and young people, with devastating consequences.

‘It is fundamental to our justice system that the police rely on accurate information. But the police computer system has been unreliable for some time and vulnerable young people are paying the price,’ Ms Mawuli said.

Ms Mawuli said young people who have been unlawfully detained because of wrong bail information and who wish to join this class action should register their interest by calling (02) 8898 6517.

Media contacts:

 Dominic O’Grady, PIAC Media Officer, 0400 110 169.

Amanda Tattam, Maurice Blackburn National Media Manager, 0413 997 467

Online resources: Facebook page, Maurice Blackburn, Public Interest Advocacy Centre

Key facts:

• Every night, about 450 young people are in detention in NSW.  
• Anecdotal reports indicate two or three cases of unlawful detention of young people come before the courts each week in NSW.

More information:

• Read the Bail Me Out report into escalating juvenile detention. 
• The Children in Detention Advocacy Project (CIDnAP) is a partnership between PIAC, the Public Interest Law Clearing House and others. The project provides pro bono or legal aid representation to minors on cases of false arrest, unlawful detention and malicious prosecution. 
• PIAC and Maurice Blackburn have a telephone hotline for young people who have been detained on wrong bail information and who want to register their interest in joining this class action.
• Call the telephone hotline on (02) 8898 6517 or visit the Facebook page.