In short:
Indigenous children at a NAIDOC week event in Brisbane were observed being locked in the back of a police wagon.
One community member said police were effectively allowing the children "to cosplay as criminals".
What's next?
A QPS spokesperson said further discussions will ensure feedback is incorporated into next year's event.
Queensland police liaison officers have been accused of inviting Indigenous children to play in the back of a police wagon at one of the state's biggest NAIDOC week events, in what one resident claims allowed kids "to cosplay as criminals".
A Queensland Police Service (QPS) spokesperson has confirmed the "hands-on" use of police property had been approved for community engagement.
"This is intended to break down barriers, create conversations and build relationships with community," the spokesperson said.
The NAIDOC week event was held at Inala in Brisbane's south-west on Wednesday, one week early, in a bid to attract more children during the school holidays.
Inala is home to a large First Nations community and the family event featured touch football games, rides and a range of organisations promoting their work in the community.
Professor Chelsea Watego, an Inala resident, said unlike years past, there was no tent or marquee at the QPS exhibit.
"What they did in the absence of a stall is they backed in a [police] wagon with the doors open and the kids got to play getting locked up in the wagon as part of their engagement activity," she said.
"Queensland police turn up to one of the biggest Indigenous community NAIDOC week events — in which we have high rates of incarceration of our community — and they turn up with a [police] wagon to ... get our kids to cosplay as criminals."
Professor Watego said when she walked over to the van she saw several children who had been locked inside being let out. She said they had been taking turns pretending to be officers and criminals.
The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls said the activity was "deeply inappropriate".
"It has come to our attention that the QPS organised an activity at the NAIDOC event involving a [police] wagon, where Aboriginal children were invited to hop in the back of the vehicle presumedly for the 'fun' of it," the network's Debbie Kilroy said in a statement.
"This activity is not only deeply inappropriate but also a stark reminder of the ongoing trauma and systemic issues faced by Aboriginal communities," she added.
Police van removed after complaint
Professor Watego said those operating the stall were police liaison officers — specialist, non-sworn positions, dedicated to improving engagement with diverse communities.
"The very positions that were put in place as a result of the recommendations in the royal commission of deaths in custody to reduce the high rates of incarceration of Indigenous peoples," she said.
"And here they are facilitating our kids having fun getting locked up."
Ms Kilroy echoed those criticisms, saying the "normalisation of incarceration, particularly for children, is an abhorrent misuse of the responsibility bestowed upon the QPS".
"For most in the Aboriginal community, the sight of a [police] wagon is a painful symbol of loss, trauma, and injustice," she said.
Forest Lake councillor Charles Strunk attended the gathering and thanked Inala Wangarra for organising "this important event".
"NAIDOC is an opportunity for all of us to learn about First Nations cultures and participate in activities that help us learn more about our community and the services around us," he said.
The QPS spokesperson said a police liaison officer at the event was approached by a community member "who expressed their 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 closed the police vehicle and removed it from the event site," the spokesperson said.
"Further discussions around this event have since been had with relevant local community stakeholders. The QPS takes community feedback seriously and will ensure it is incorporated in planning for next year’s event."