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Police apologise for using Aborigine mugshots in squad's target practice

By Kathy Marks in Darwin

8 July 2003 - The Independent (UK) - Police in Queensland were forced into a humiliating climbdown yesterday, admitting they had been using mugshots of criminal suspects, including Aborigines, for target practice.

Officers had defended the use of the photos in training exercises by the state's counter-terrorism squad, but after an uproar and accusations of racism, Bob Atkinson, the police commissioner, apologised and said the practice would stop.

Tony McGrady, the Queensland police minister, had ordered an inquiry after media reports that the squad was firing live bullets at pictures of real people. Ray Robinson, one Aboriginal leader, condemned the "despicable act", saying it was "outrageous in a country where we are trying to achieve reconciliation between black and white Australians".

The revelation also prompted complaints from civil liberties groups. "It's absolutely disgraceful in that it reinforces prejudices," said Cameron Murphy, secretary of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties. "We've got a serious problem with police being trained to shoot to kill, and we've also got a problem with police unfairly targeting certain groups. What we now have is the two issues linked together."

Mr Atkinson said the 40-man special emergency response team needed to hone its skills in the most realistic setting possible, and photos of real people helped. He said the 28 pictures used were 10 years old and only two were of Aborigines.

But later, he apologised for any "embarrassment or hurt". "There was never any racist overtone or aspect to this. It is about identifying - under very brief and difficult circumstances in a [simulated] hostage siege - the victims from the offenders. With the wisdom of hindsight, we should not have used photos of people without their permission and without their knowledge."

Source:The Independent (UK)

Outcry over gun target mugshots

by David Fickling in Sydney

8 July 2003 - The Guardian (UK) - Police in Queensland came under fierce criticism yesterday for using mugshots of living people for target practice.

A television report showed a police shooting gallery where blown-up photographs of arrested criminals were riddled with bullet holes.

The gallery had been used by the anti-terrorism squad for training in dealing with hostage situations.

Civil liberties campaigners said the practice infringed the rights of living people whose images were being used.

The Queensland police minister, Tony McGrady, called for an immediate review of the practice, but the state's police commissioner, Bob Atkinson, said police needed to be prepared for real hostage situations, although he apologised for using the images without permission.

Terry O'Gorman, president of the Australian Council of Civil Liberties, said the practice should be investigated. "There is no necessity to have photographs of real people for use as target practice," he said.

Source: The Guardian (UK)

Australia to quit using mugshots for target practice

7 July 2003 - Australian police today abandoned using photographs of living people, including some Aborigines, for target practice after coming under fierce criticism.

Local media said the photos – usually “mug shots” taken after arrest – were used for training by Queensland state’s elite counter-terrorism squad.

“It is a despicable act,” prominent Aboriginal leader Ray Robinson said. “I think it is outrageous in a country where we are trying to achieve reconciliation between black and white Australians.”

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson initially defended the use of the 10-year-old images, but later said the practice would be stopped after the state’s Police Minister Tony McGrady called for a review.

“There was never ever any racist overtone or aspect to this, it is about identifying, under very brief and difficult circumstances in a hostage siege situation, the victims from the offenders,” Atkinson said.

“But I acknowledge that with the wisdom of hindsight ... we should not have used photographs of people without their permission and without their knowledge.”

Atkinson said 28 different pictures were used – four women and 24 men. Only two images were of people with dark complexions, he added.

He apologised for any “embarrassment or hurt” caused.

Australian Council of Civil Liberties president Terry O’Gorman said earlier the practice should be investigated.

“There is no necessity to have photographs of real people for use as target practice,” he said.

Source: Ireland Online

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