An Aboriginal teenager wrongfully arrested and assaulted by Victoria Police is too traumatised to leave the house, his family says.
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Tommy Lovett, then 18, had to be hospitalised after he was arrested, beaten and capsicum sprayed by Darebin police looking for a man more than twice his age in April 2016.
According to his uncle, Mr Lovett is yet to recover from the incident, which has shattered his faith in law enforcement - although the force says the officers involved have no case to answer.
"He is at a point in his life where he is totally overwhelmed and traumatised by this situation that has occurred with the police, the way that he has been mistreated," Darren Lovett told reporters on Tuesday.
"He was a young kid on his way, trying to get on with his life and he is (now) unable to do that.
"He stays inside, he doesn't go out, he doesn't see his friends anymore."
The Lovett family is calling for the state government to change how police complaints are handled, as recommended by a parliamentary IBAC committee in 2018.
Lawyer Jeremy King, who is acting for Tommy Lovett, said the family had made a complaint following his arrest alleging excessive force but withdrew it after learning the person assigned to investigate was from the same station as those officers involved.
"It's not just about the inherent conflict Victoria Police have when investigating their own, but often it's a case where police from the very same station are investigating their colleagues," Mr King said.
"That is a huge conflict of interest and it absolutely erodes any trust or faith anyone in the community can have in the outcome of that investigation."
In a statement on Monday, Victoria Police said an independent manager continued with an internal investigation, which was " unable to determine if any criminal or disciplinary behaviour occurred".
"While Victoria Police acknowledges there is work to be done to existing practices, it holds a strong view that the existing oversight model is the most appropriate and effective. We cannot outsource our integrity."
Australian Associated Press