Police Killings in Australia - R.W. Harding

Police Killings in Australia by R.W. Harding is a groundbreaking and meticulously researched examination of deaths caused by police action in Australia. Originally published in the late 1970s, this book was one of the first comprehensive studies to shine a critical light on the use of lethal force by law enforcement in a democratic society.

Harding, a criminologist and legal scholar, draws from coronial inquests, court records, police files, and media reports to analyze cases where civilians died during police operations. He explores the circumstances of these deaths, patterns in police behavior, the legal and institutional frameworks surrounding accountability, and the broader implications for civil rights and justice. The book challenges official narratives and raises essential questions about the culture of policing, the discretion given to officers, and the systemic failures in oversight.

Police Killings in Australia remains a vital text in criminology and social justice discourse. Its sober, evidence-based approach makes it essential reading for researchers, legal professionals, activists, and anyone concerned with the relationship between state power and the rights of citizens.