The independent ACT Ombudsman has announced two separate investigations will examine the controversial arrest of an Aboriginal teenager who was mistakenly taken into custody at gunpoint on a public bus in Canberra.
Ombudsman Launches Own Inquiry into Police Practices
ACT and Commonwealth Ombudsman Iain Anderson confirmed he has initiated an 'own motion' investigation into the incident, which will run alongside the Australian Federal Police's internal Professional Standards (PRS) inquiry. Mr Anderson stated that while the AFP's internal unit typically handles misconduct allegations, this case raised broader systemic questions that warranted his direct oversight.
"On 19 November 2025, I was made aware of an incident where an Aboriginal teenager was taken off a bus by ACT Policing at gunpoint and was mistakenly arrested," Mr Anderson said. He formally notified the AFP Commissioner of his separate investigation on 21 November 2025.
The Ombudsman's probe will focus on police systems, practices, and potential lessons to be learned from the event, rather than solely on the conduct of the individual officers involved.
Details of the November 11 Bus Incident
The arrest occurred on November 11, 2025, during what police described as a "highly dynamic" operation. ACT Policing officers were searching for a 15-year-old Aboriginal teen suspected of a stabbing, armed robbery, and attempted carjackings in Woden.
Acting on multiple reports from witnesses and a police member, officers stopped a Transport Canberra bus and detained the 17-year-old boy. He was removed from the bus at gunpoint before police realised he was not the suspect they were seeking.
ACT Policing has since apologised to the teenager and his family. However, Chief Police Officer Deputy Commissioner Scott Lee maintained that, given the information available at the time, the arrest could not have been avoided. Police stated the teen matched the alleged offender's description and clothing.
Allegations of Racial Profiling and Calls for Transparency
The boy's family and Barbara Causon, the acting commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, have strongly contested the police explanation. They allege racial profiling was a factor, arguing the two teenagers had "nothing in common except the same colour skin."
Independent MLA Thomas Emerson added weight to these claims, telling a legal affairs committee hearing that people familiar with both youths said one was tall and the other was short, highlighting a physical discrepancy.
In response to the incident, ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury called for greater transparency in police accountability processes to rebuild public trust. He described the event as "appalling" and argued that body-worn camera footage from the arrest should be made public.
The dual investigations by the Ombudsman and AFP Professional Standards are now set to scrutinise the actions taken and the procedures followed, with outcomes likely to influence future policing practices in the Australian Capital Territory.
