CopWatch was created by the National Justice Project (NJP) in 2017 to support First Nations communities respond to police over-reach and discrimination, which continues to have devastating impacts on families and communities. CopWatch intended to provide communities with tools, knowledge, and skills to improve engagement, trust and police accountability, and promote safer police-community interactions.

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CopWatch was redesigned and relaunched in 2023 and is 100% publicly available. All communities, and particularly those who experience police discrimination and are susceptible to mistreatment by police, are welcome to use CopWatch.

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Video recordings made by members of the public can be key to holding police to account.

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Documenting police interactions and storing this evidence can help to protect people and communities who are vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment by police. This evidence can prove what happened to you and help to expose and remedy systemic problems, including racism and discrimination in policing. This is crucial to increasing police accountability and working to build trust with communities.

 

CopWatch Tools & Information

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CopWatch gives you tools and information to help you stay safe when you come into contact with police.

 

CopWatch has 3 components:

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The CopWatch app:

• allows you to send a text message alert to up to 3 pre-selected contacts together with a map showing your location if you are in trouble

• allows you to video record incidents, and provides instructions to keep your videos safe

• contains information on rights and responsibilities when recording and interacting with police and links to more information on the CopWatch website

• is free to download on Apple Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).

 

The CopWatch website:

• contains educational information, including how the app works

• contains information about individual rights and responsibilities when interacting with and recording police, including how to safely and legally record interactions with police

• provides a list of organisations that offer support and legal advice.

 

The CopWatch community training and education program:

• is designed to live within community and allows CopWatch tools and knowledge to be used freely, as each community determines appropriate

• prioritises maintaining and delivering CopWatch training that is locally relevant and community-owned. This is critical to the program being effective and the learnings and impacts lasting.

 

Contact us at contact@copwatch.org.au to learn more, bring CopWatch to your community, or contribute to this vital work.

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Go to Help & Resources for a list of support and legal services and other useful resources and links.

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Please note: CopWatch does not give legal advice or individual support or advice. We recommend seeking legal help from your local Aboriginal Legal Service, Legal Aid or Community Legal Centre. Formal legal advice should be sought in relation to your individual case or circumstances, especially if you believe you have a claim for financial compensation.