The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and ACT Policing have faced sharp criticism after an investigation found that the armed arrest of an Indigenous teenager on a bus in Canberra was 'staggering'. The Commonwealth and ACT Ombudsman released a report on Tuesday condemning the incident, which occurred in November 2025. This was reported by infohub.kz.
According to the ombudsman's report, a 17-year-old Aboriginal boy, referred to as Jay in the report, boarded a bus in Woden on the evening of 11 November 2025. ACT Police stopped the bus, and three officers entered with guns drawn. Jay was taken off the bus at gunpoint, brought to the ground, handcuffed, and arrested. However, within 90 seconds, police realized their mistake: they had mistaken him for a suspect in an aggravated burglary.
Police released Jay, apologized, and searched him. He then got back on the bus to continue his journey. However, police did not ask for his name, confirm his age, or ask for details to contact a family member. The Ombudsman, Iain Anderson, concluded that Jay was searched 'inappropriately and seemingly unlawfully' after his release.
During the incident, one of the officers reportedly said: 'Hey, here's an opportunity. Let's search him anyway even though we know he's not the person we're looking for.' Anderson described this approach as 'staggering'. He also expressed concern that the AFP had no clearly understood definition of 'racial profiling'.
Jay's family said the incident left them feeling 'helpless' and 'scared', and that it 'still sits heavy with all of us'. They demanded that ACT Policing own their mistakes and commit to doing better for future generations.
The investigation made eight recommendations, including reviewing the use of race as a physical descriptor, developing clearer guidance for officers performing the 'Alpha 8' role, and establishing a clear definition of 'racial profiling' aligned with Australia's Racial Discrimination Act. The AFP accepted most recommendations but plans to make some adjustments.
ACT Policing's chief police officer, Scott Lee, apologized last year for the incident, acknowledging the trauma caused to Jay, his family, and the broader Indigenous community. He committed to strengthening the relationship with the First Nations community.