news, latest-news, act policing, act policing tweet, act policing cellfie, emma davidson act policing
ACT Policing has apologised over a controversial tweet which compared the ACT Watch House to a “boutique” hotel. “A minimalist decor greets guests at one of Canberra’s most exclusive boutique residences,” reads the now deleted tweet. “With 38 beds, the ACT Watch House is the perfect place to reflect and consider one’s path in life. #cellfie #watchhouse.” But according to Greens minister Emma Davidson, who holds the youth justice portfolio, it’s the police who need to reconsider their choices. “Considering the mental wellbeing of the people who end up in the watch house, I reckon you need to reflect on what you’re actually achieving with tweets like this,” Ms Davidson tweeted. Ms Davidson has been approached for further comment. The post comes after a year where the death in custody of US man George Floyd sparked global marches against police brutality. An inquest is underway in Queensland into custody arrangements in watch houses, after the deaths of 49-year-old Shiralee Tilberoo in Brisbane City Watch House in September as well as Vlasta Wylucki, who died in the Southport Watch House in 2018. A separate inquest into the death of Brisbane mother Cindy Miller at the Ipswich watch house also probed whether police watch house procedures were adequate. The ACT Watch House itself was the focus of a 2007 Commonwealth Ombudsman report, after a woman was spayed with capsicum spray at the City Watchhouse and not decontaminated for two hours due to a shift change. In 2017, Greens leader and corrections minister Shane Rattenbury pledged the ACT government could and would do more to keep people safe in custody, after Aboriginal man Stephen Freeman died in the Alexander Maconochie Centre in 2016. ACT Policing also attracted criticism last week over a social post with a picture of five balaclava-clad men wearing Santa hats atop a police truck. “Here’s five people you don’t want sliding down your chimney this Christmas. #tacticalresponseteam #TRT,” says the now-deleted post. An ACT Policing spokesman apologised for the posts. “Yesterday, ACT Policing published a post to its social media channels that featured a cell at the ACT Watch House,” he said. “As part of its strategy to deter alcohol related violence during the holiday season and on New Year’s Eve, the intention of the post was to encourage people to think about their decision making if a night out leads to being arrested and lodged in the Watch House. Police regularly attend incidents where one decision affects the victim and perpetrator for the rest of their lives. “The posts have since been removed, as we recognised the community concerns about vulnerable Canberrans in the justice system. ACT Policing apologises to anyone who was offended by or took issue with the posts. “Earlier this month, ACT Policing also published a post to its social media channels that featured the AFP Bearcat and members in balaclavas. This post has also since been removed.” The spokesman said ACT Policing review feedback about the tweets, although noted “negative and positive reactions were received”. “ACT Policing regularly uses humour to share public safety messaging to people who might otherwise not engage with police,” the spokeman said.
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/3BUUzmFAhrhLyX9rFCubPq5/f6d0e84f-a702-4e05-8dd7-a72485568999.jpg/r4_0_1597_900_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
ACT Policing has apologised over a controversial tweet which compared the ACT Watch House to a “boutique” hotel.
“A minimalist decor greets guests at one of Canberra’s most exclusive boutique residences,” reads the now deleted tweet.
“With 38 beds, the ACT Watch House is the perfect place to reflect and consider one’s path in life. #cellfie #watchhouse.”
But according to Greens minister Emma Davidson, who holds the youth justice portfolio, it’s the police who need to reconsider their choices.
“Considering the mental wellbeing of the people who end up in the watch house, I reckon you need to reflect on what you’re actually achieving with tweets like this,” Ms Davidson tweeted.
Ms Davidson has been approached for further comment.
The ACT Watch House itself was the focus of a 2007 Commonwealth Ombudsman report, after a woman was spayed with capsicum spray at the City Watchhouse and not decontaminated for two hours due to a shift change.
In 2017, Greens leader and corrections minister Shane Rattenbury pledged the ACT government could and would do more to keep people safe in custody, after Aboriginal man Stephen Freeman died in the Alexander Maconochie Centre in 2016.
ACT Policing also attracted criticism last week over a social post with a picture of five balaclava-clad men wearing Santa hats atop a police truck.
“Here’s five people you don’t want sliding down your chimney this Christmas. #tacticalresponseteam #TRT,” says the now-deleted post.
An ACT Policing spokesman apologised for the posts.
“Yesterday, ACT Policing published a post to its social media channels that featured a cell at the ACT Watch House,” he said.
“As part of its strategy to deter alcohol related violence during the holiday season and on New Year’s Eve, the intention of the post was to encourage people to think about their decision making if a night out leads to being arrested and lodged in the Watch House. Police regularly attend incidents where one decision affects the victim and perpetrator for the rest of their lives.
“The posts have since been removed, as we recognised the community concerns about vulnerable Canberrans in the justice system. ACT Policing apologises to anyone who was offended by or took issue with the posts.
“Earlier this month, ACT Policing also published a post to its social media channels that featured the AFP Bearcat and members in balaclavas. This post has also since been removed.”
The spokesman said ACT Policing review feedback about the tweets, although noted “negative and positive reactions were received”.
“ACT Policing regularly uses humour to share public safety messaging to people who might otherwise not engage with police,” the spokeman said.
