The shocking playpen Queensland cops offered Indigenous kids at a Brisbane NAIDOC week event – until they were asked to leave: ‘Cosplay criminals’

Queensland police have been left furious after Aboriginal children were invited to ride in a police car as an activity at an indigenous culture festival.

Professor Chelsea Watego said she attended the National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee (NAIDOC) event near her home in Inala, in Brisbane’s south-west. In previous years, it had also included a large Queensland Police party.

But she said the organization was not represented with a “booth” this year, but with a police car and a number of community officers, who are not sworn police officers.

Ms Watego said the officers parked the police car, opened the doors and the children took turns playing police officers or criminals and ‘played being locked up as part of their engagement activity’.

‘Queensland Police come to one of the largest NAIDOC Week events for Indigenous communities – where we have a high percentage of prisoners in our community – and they show up with a [police] dare to … make our children cosplay as criminals,’ she told the ABC.

Debbie Kilroy, from The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, said the activity was “highly inappropriate” and a reminder of the ongoing trauma and systemic issues facing Aboriginal communities.

A Queensland Police spokesperson said official permission had been given for the ‘hands-on’ use of police property for the activity.

“This is intended to break down barriers, spark conversations and build community relationships,” the spokesperson said.

Ms Watego made her claim on social media, saying she was disappointed with the actions of the police officers.

“These features were introduced as a direct result of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Detention as a measure to reduce the extreme incarceration of Blackfullas … and here they contribute to its normalisation,” she said.

“This is utterly outrageous and disrespectful to our community, many of whom have lost loved ones in prison and are still fighting for justice for their people.”

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

“This may be the most toneless thing I’ve ever seen,” someone said.

“How come no one is involved in coordinating this thought, ‘maybe this is offensive and we shouldn’t do it,’” said another.

“Another clear sign of how disconnected the entire police and government system is that makes this possible,” said a third.

“What was their point? Horrible,” added another.

Ms Watego’s (right) post on social media sparked a flood of comments criticising the activity

Queensland Police confirmed that a festival-goer had ‘raised concerns about the use of the police vehicle’.

“Following these discussions with local residents and out of respect for their concerns, the chief police contact person immediately locked the police vehicle and removed it from the event site,” the spokesperson said.

‘Further discussions about this event have since been held with relevant local stakeholders in the community. The QPS takes feedback from the community seriously and will ensure that it is incorporated into the planning for next year’s event.’