Revelations that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) used controlled operations to entrap a 13-year-old autistic boy have raised serious concerns about risks posed to individuals and the community by AFP operations.¹
The boy’s parents approached police seeking help after they were concerned their child was viewing terrorist material online. Once the AFP had the family’s trust, they initiated a covert operation against the child with an undercover operative initiating extremist discussions with the boy and encouraged his fixation.
Having driven the young boy into extremism the AFP then waited until he turned 14 and charged him with terrorism offences.
The police misbehaviour was so extreme that a judge ultimately threw the case out in a savage judgement that was kept secret for months.
The obscene abuse of power by the AFP in this matter was authorised by some of the most senior members of the force. And none of the officers are even under investigation. Instead, the AFP has commenced some “internal reviews” of their conduct..
If police are willing to abuse their powers so brazenly against a 13-year-old, then what else are they doing in secret?
Clearly an urgent and independent investigation is needed into this case and any other related abuses of institutional power by the AFP.
The Greens are calling on the Government to:
- Initiate an independent and full-empowered investigation of the AFP’s actions in the case of CDPP v Carrick and any related matters, including considering what sanctions may be applicable to the police involved
- Ensure that programs intended to address extremism reduce risks to the community and protect vulnerable people and are not abused by police for the purpose of entrapping people
- Review AFP engagement with disabled and mentally ill people to ensure their human rights are fully protected
Join us in calling for a real independent inquiry into the Australian Federal Police.
¹ See coverage on SBS news here. The case is reported as CDPP v Carrick (a pseudonym) [2023] VChC 2.