Indigenous deaths in custody have reached a record high a new report has found.
The latest data from the federal Productivity Commission shows Indigenous deaths in custody are at their highest in 15 years while public perception of police officers has plunged to its lowest in a decade.
The mid-year release of the commission’s data includes information on social and public housing, police services, school and early childhood education.
It noted a reduction in the number of deaths in police custody compared to 2007/08 but the number of Indigenous deaths was the “equal highest number in any year.”
Meanwhile, the proportion of people who said police treat people fairly and equally fell from 77.7 per cent to 66.3 per cent.
