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ABC News
17 hours ago
- ABC News
A third of cases involving use of force by ACT police were escalated by officers, ombudsman finds
A third of cases involving the use of force by police in the ACT involved situations being unnecessarily escalated by the "unprofessional behaviour" of officers, a report has found. The ACT Ombudsman analysed more than 6,200 use-of-force reports and 200 clips of body-worn camera vision and CCTV recorded between January 2019 and December 2023. Officers drew, aimed or discharged a taser more than 1,600 times during that period. A firearm was used in almost 320 incidents, and a baton was used almost 260 times. Ombudsman Iain Anderson said the investigation had uncovered cases where the police response had "unnecessarily inflamed situations", resulting in poor outcomes. "While we have seen some excellent conduct by officers, handling difficult interactions with care and respect, we are concerned at the unprofessional conduct, offensive and abusive language, and unnecessary aggression displayed by some officers, the seniority of whom does not appear to have been a determining factor," he said in the report. Mr Anderson said while force was sometimes necessary to uphold safety, misusing it eroded community trust. "It also has the potential to disproportionately impact vulnerable members of the ACT community, including young people, First Nations people and those experiencing mental health challenges," he said. About 17 per cent of use-of-force cases involved a mental health incident and 10 per cent involved an intoxicated person. Police officers reported experiencing injuries in 21 per cent of confrontations, ranging from minor injuries, like bruises or scratches, to major injuries including serious head knocks or broken bones. In one case highlighted by the ombudsman, police stopped a suspected drink driver, threw him to the ground, handcuffed him and left him face down in the gutter. The matter was heard in the ACT Magistrates Court in 2022, where Magistrate James Lawton took aim at the officers' unlawful use of force. "Removing the defendant from his car without giving him opportunity to comply and then throwing him to the ground were outrageous," he said. "The actions of these officers [were] deplorable and should be denounced. "A strong message must be sent that this behaviour will not be tolerated." In another case criticised by the ombudsman, police arrested a heavily intoxicated 16-year-old boy who had fallen off a bench with his pants tangled around his ankles. The teenager had sworn repeatedly at police but had not displayed physical aggression before he was grabbed, rolled over and handcuffed, the report found. As the situation escalated, the boy spat at police and was pepper sprayed. He was denied his request to have his eyes washed out, with an officer telling him "No! Don't f***ing spit at us, c***." The ombudsman made 13 recommendations to improve the use of force in the ACT. They include better equipping officers to engage with intoxicated people and those experiencing a mental health crisis. The Ombudsman has also called for extra safeguards around the way young people are handcuffed. Other recommendations relate to improving the use of body-worn cameras. "By not reliably collecting audio and visual [body-worn camera] evidence, ACT Policing is failing to comply with the law and undermining the legislative intent of promoting accountability and protecting the safety of both police officers and members of the community," the ombudsman's report said. ACT Policing has fully accepted two of the report's recommendations, partially accepted eight and not accepted three. In a letter of response to the ombudsman, ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee said the investigation overlooked the many times officers were able to de-escalate situations without needing to use force. He said in most cases, force is used reasonably and proportionately. "Where you identified officer conduct lacking and not appropriately dealt with, I would like to assure you that ACT Policing members are held to account." Deputy Commissioner Lee said behaviour in the report would be reviewed, noting several cases had already been referred to the Professional Standards Unit. Sanctions for officers found to have engaged in misconduct range from verbal counselling to criminal charges. In September 2024, ACT Policing announced the establishment of an Operations Safety Practices Committee, to "further enhance rigour around the use of force by members".
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
ACT cop accused of horrific comments to 17-year-old at watch house
WARNING: This story includes references to Indigenous death and self-harm. Shocking comments from an ACT watch house officer to a 17-year-old boy have sparked outrage around the country. The incident allegedly took place after the Indigenous boy was arrested last year. Footage played during a recent ACT Supreme Court hearing showed the officer asking the boy whether he was thinking of taking his own life, then goading him after he gave an answer. The officer allegedly asked 'Are you thinking of necking yourself?'. When the boy replied that he was not, the officer allegedly said 'You wouldn't have the guts to do it anyway.' Several officers standing behind the teenager – none of whom made the offensive comment – can be seen smirking in the vision, according to the Canberra Times which first reported the story. The Times reports that the same sergeant asked the teen — who was in foster care — if he had parents. He replied 'Nah'. 'No parents? You just magically appeared on the face of the Earth?' the sergeant replied. In a statement sent to ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee said the officer's actions 'are unacceptable and will not be tolerated'. 'I hold everyone in ACT Policing to high standards of professionalism and integrity, as do our officers, and this is in line with community expectations,' he said. 'The comments of the officer during a Watch House intake in 2024 are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 'It falls well below the standards expected of our officers and was dealt with swiftly after the incident occurred with the matter currently being investigated by AFP Professional Standards.' He said that while the investigation continues, 'appropriate action has been taken to ensure the seriousness of the incident was understood'. A young Aboriginal leader, Jordan Hindmarsh-Keevil, posted a video on his popular social media channels calling out the incident. 'I hate making videos about negative things, but this is f***ing very important because I bet you didn't hear about it,' he said. 'Although this video might make you angry, I do not mean to divide anyone. All I want from this is for people who believe that Australia is not a racist country — those people say so because it doesn't say it legally anywhere. 'What they do not understand is this treatment is not a one-off. This happens all the time. 'This officer looked at a 17-year-old boy and he said 'are you thinking about necking yourself?' Two of the other coppers who were standing next to this man started smirking and smiling. And this officer had already mocked this kid for not having parents because he was in foster care. 'I am angry at the police that did this but I'm angry that this type of hatred towards other people exists'. The Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, called the incident 'abhorrent misconduct'. 'In the context of the horrifying and ongoing epidemic of Aboriginal deaths in custody in this jurisdiction and across Australia, this comment can be seen as a deliberate incitement to an Aboriginal child to end his life,' she said in a statement. 'What is even more horrific is the young person is a survivor of forcible removal … the police interrogation used against this young person by police is shameful.' Professor Hannah McGlade from Curtin University researches issues around Indigenous human rights and issues in custody. She was horrified when she learned about the officer's comments. 'It was horrific that a young vulnerable Aboriginal boy is being taunted to commit suicide at the watch house,' she told 'And being goaded. Do people not know the leading cause of death for young Aboriginal boys is suicide? Do they think it's a laughing matter? ' This is about inflicting mental trauma. Severe trauma,' she said.'The kind of trauma that can lead to a child that can take their own life. 'How much more cruel could you be? I'm a family foster carer and that weighs heavily. It beggars belief. We simply haven't tackled racism in this country. We're criminalising the most vulnerable children in Australia.
