1. Queensland police criticized for allowing children to act as offenders
2. Queensland law enforcement under fire for permitting kids to mimic criminals.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : A police van has been removed from a National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) event in Brisbane after complaints of “shameful” behavior by police officers accused of allowing children to play a game of pretending to be criminals.
According to reports, officers at the event in Brisbane’s south on Wednesday were allegedly seen “throwing Black kids in the paddy wagon for fun,” with children taking turns pretending to be police and criminals. The vehicle was eventually removed from the Inala gathering after a member of the public raised concerns about the activity.
Inala resident Chelsea Watego, a professor of Indigenous health at Queensland University of Technology, took to social media to express her outrage, posting a picture of the van with its back door open. She criticized the police liaison officers for running the activity and normalizing the incarceration of Indigenous people, which goes against the purpose of their positions introduced as a result of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
Watego highlighted the insensitivity of the police officers’ actions, especially considering that many members of the community have lost loved ones in custody and continue to fight for justice. She also pointed out that Queensland Police did not have a marquee at the event and instead parked the vans for display.
The Queensland Police defended their presence at the family day, stating that officers had been invited to participate and had a vehicle on display as part of a “hands-on” experience. They claimed that the use of police property had been approved for community engagement but acknowledged the concerns raised by the community member and promptly removed the vehicle from the event.
In a statement, a police spokesperson said, “The QPS takes community feedback seriously and will ensure it is incorporated into planning for next year’s event.” Discussions have since been held with local community stakeholders to address the incident.
The controversy comes at a time when Queensland has the highest number of children behind bars in the country, according to a Child Death Review Board report released in March. The report highlighted the over-representation of Indigenous children in the justice system, with alarming statistics showing that Indigenous kids aged 10-17 are significantly more likely to be under youth justice supervision and in detention compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts.
NAIDOC Week, an Australian observance celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, is usually held in July. The theme for NAIDOC Week 2024 is “Keep the Fire Burning – Blak, Loud, and Proud,” emphasizing the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities.
As the debate continues over the treatment of Indigenous youth in the justice system, it is evident that more efforts are needed to address the systemic issues that contribute to the over-representation of Indigenous children in detention facilities..
“QLD cops criticized for allowing children to act as criminals”
“Controversy surrounds QLD police for allowing kids to play criminals”.