The shocking playground offered by Queensland Police to Indigenous children at NAIDOC Week event in Brisbane

Queensland police have sparked anger after Aboriginal children were invited to see the inside of a prison van as part of an activity at an Aboriginal culture festival.

Professor Chelsea Watego said she attended the National Aboriginal and Islander Observation Committee (NAIDOC) event near her home in Inala, southwest of Brisbane, which in previous years had included a Queensland Police marquee.

But she said this year, instead of the “booth,” the organization was represented by a police van and a number of community liaison officers, who are not sworn police officers.

Ms Watego said the officers reversed into the prison van, opened its doors and allowed the children to take turns playing police or criminals and “play being locked up as part of their engagement activity”.

“Queensland Police show up at one of the largest Aboriginal community events of NAIDOC Week – where we have high rates of incarceration of our community – and they show up with a (police) wagon to… get our kids to dress up as criminals,” she told the ABC.

Debbie Kilroy of the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls said the event was “deeply inappropriate” and a reminder of the ongoing trauma and systematic issues facing Indigenous communities.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the “practical” use of police assets for the activity had received official approval.

“The goal is to break down barriers, create conversations and build relationships with the community,” the spokesperson said.

Ms Watego took to social media to say she was disappointed by the actions of the police liaison officers.

“These positions were introduced as a direct result of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, as a measure to reduce the hyper-incarceration of Blackfullas… and here they are facilitating its normalisation,” she said.

“This is absolutely shameful and disrespectful to our community, many of whom have lost loved ones in custody and continue to fight for justice for our people.”

His post sparked a flood of comments criticizing the activity, with many calling it “disgusting.”

“This might be the most tone deaf thing I’ve ever seen,” one person said.

“How come no one is involved in coordinating this thinking? ‘Maybe it’s insulting and we shouldn’t do it,'” said another.

“Yet another glaring indicator of the disconnect between the entire police system and the government that allows this,” said a third.

“What was their goal? It’s appalling,” added another.

Queensland Police confirmed that a festival-goer had “expressed concerns about the use of the police vehicle”.

“Following these conversations with the community member, and out of respect for their concerns, the senior police liaison officer immediately locked the police vehicle and removed it from the event site,” the spokesperson said.

“Further discussions around this event have since taken place with relevant local stakeholders. The QPS takes community feedback seriously and will ensure it is incorporated into planning for next year’s event.”

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