ACT Police Disclose Firearm Use During Arrests Involving Young People
ACT police have released data detailing how often officers drew firearms during arrests in 2025, with the figures coming to light after a high-profile case involving the "mistaken" gunpoint arrest of an Aboriginal teenager on a bus. The disclosure follows questions raised by Kurrajong member Thomas Emerson in the ACT Legislative Assembly, who sought clarity on police practices and accountability.
Questioning Police Procedures and Use of Force
Mr Emerson directed inquiries to the Minister for Police, Marisa Paterson, asking specifically about the number of arrests conducted at gunpoint last year. His questions were prompted by an incident in November 2025, where the family of a 17-year-old boy alleged racial profiling and brutality after police arrested him at gunpoint. "Please detail for each case referred to in part the nature of the suspect's behaviour at the point of arrest and the reason for guns having been drawn," Mr Emerson stated in his formal query.
He also requested information on how many such arrests involved suspects under 18 years old and asked for a copy of ACT Policing's use-of-force policy. The minister approved the police response on January 20, 2026, providing a detailed breakdown of the incidents.
Data Reveals 22 Incidents Involving Firearms
According to the police response, between January 1 and November 30, 2025, ACT Policing officers reported that a firearm was drawn, drawn and aimed, or fired in 22 instances where officers were pursuing a person of interest. Out of these 22 apprehensions, three involved minors. The document noted, "... there were 22 apprehensions (including 'arrest') on cases where a use of force (UoF) form indicated that a firearm was drawn, drawn and aimed or discharged."
However, police clarified that the data is indicative only, as their systems cannot directly link use-of-force reports to specific apprehensions, only to cases. They also explained that the use of force could relate to any individual involved in a case, not necessarily the arrested person.
Transparency and Investigation Concerns
ACT Policing cited several reasons for not providing more detailed information on the 22 incidents. They stated that extracting specifics from every case and redacting information to protect privacy would require "significant time and resources." Additionally, some cases might be part of court proceedings, external investigations, or internal reviews by the Australian Federal Police professional standards team. Disclosing details could prejudice these processes.
Mr Emerson expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, particularly regarding the ongoing internal investigation into the bus arrest incident. "We're still waiting for answers more than two months after an innocent Aboriginal boy was apprehended at gunpoint," he said. He highlighted key questions from the community, such as whether police had the suspect's photograph before entering the bus and if protocols were breached.
Two investigations are currently underway: one by the AFP professional standards team looking into potential misconduct, and another by the ACT Ombudsman examining police practices. Mr Emerson argued that transparency is essential to restore trust and rebuild relationships between the community and law enforcement. "Refusing to answer a key question of fact asked in a public hearing because an internal investigation is ongoing becomes a bit hard to stomach when that investigation still hasn't finished nine weeks after it started," he remarked.
Broader Implications for Police Accountability
The release of this data underscores ongoing debates about police accountability and use of force in the ACT. The incident involving the Aboriginal teenager has sparked broader discussions about racial profiling and the need for clearer protocols to prevent similar occurrences. Community advocates are calling for more robust oversight and timely disclosures to ensure public confidence in policing methods.
As investigations continue, stakeholders await further developments that could influence future police practices and policies regarding firearm use during arrests, especially when minors are involved.
