Arabic version: امرأة من كانبيرا تقاضي شرطة إقليم العاصمة الأسترالية بسبب توقيفها بالصاعق الكهربائي
According to ABC News, an Aboriginal woman with an intellectual disability is suing the Commonwealth and seven ACT Policing officers over her arrest at a Canberra bus stop in January. The civil case alleges assault and battery, human-rights breaches and misfeasance in public office.
Officers were called to Deakin after a report that a woman with a knife was yelling at passing cars and threatening occupants. Body-worn camera footage shows the woman, known as Emma, being pulled to the ground, held face down by two male officers and tasered on her bare back. Police later found two pairs of scissors in her bag, including one that was broken.
During a September sentencing hearing, Special Magistrate Sean Richter described the police actions as “unwarranted and exceedingly heavy-handed”. He said Emma, who had a traumatic brain injury from a childhood car accident, had a significant cognitive disorder and was putting up no resistance. Of five charges, all but possessing a knife without a reasonable excuse were withdrawn; she pleaded guilty and was convicted.
The lawsuit alleges an officer made misleading claims and omissions that led to unsustainable charges and Emma being refused bail. Her lawyer, Michael Lalor, said the case raised questions about police use of force involving Aboriginal people and people with disability. The defendants have not yet been required to file a defence. ACT Policing said it would not comment further while the civil claim was underway.
As of August 2026, 29 civil proceedings relating to ACT Policing action were on foot, with 18 including claims of unreasonable force. In the year to June 30, 2026, ACT Policing recorded 1,387 use-of-force reports, up from 1,175, while tasers featured in 294 reports.
