Lyla Lindsey
Australia has seen a record number of police shootings in the past year, with Queensland Police responsible for more shootings than the rest of Australia's police forces combined. There have been calls for greater scrutiny of police use of force, particularly in Queensland, which has seen a significant increase in shootings. While the number of police officers killed or wounded on duty remains small in comparison, the impact of police shootings on all involved is catastrophic, and there are concerns about a shift towards an enforcement-only mentality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people killed by police in Australia | 164 |
| Percentage increase in fatal police shootings between 2018-19 and 2019-20 | 78% |
| State with the most police shootings | New South Wales and Queensland |
| Number of police shootings in New South Wales and Queensland | 5 each |
| State with the second-most police shootings | Victoria and Western Australia |
| Number of police shootings in Victoria and Western Australia | 2 each |
| Number of those fatally shot who were Indigenous | 2 |
| Number of those fatally shot who were non-Indigenous | 11 |
| Number of police killed on duty or as a result of their duties since 2010 | 22 |
| Number of police deaths involving firearms since 2010 | 4 |
| Number of police deaths involving a knife since 2010 | 1 |
| Number of police officers in Australia in 2019-20 | 58,514 |
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What You'll Learn
- Queensland Police shot more people than the rest of Australia's police forces combined in 2022 and 2023
- Calls for Queensland to follow Victoria's lead in reducing shooting deaths
- Australian police shot dead 164 people
- A 78% increase in fatal police shootings between 2018-19 and 2019-20
- COVID's impact on police enforcement
Queensland Police shot more people than the rest of Australia's police forces combined in 2022 and 2023
According to data, Queensland Police shot more people in 2022 and 2023 than police in the rest of Australia combined. This has prompted calls for a review into the underlying causes of the high number of police shootings in the state. Queensland Civil Liberties Council (QCLC) vice-president Terry O'Gorman stated that while they are not attacking individual police officers or the police as a whole, any large organisation that is armed and kills people, regardless of justification, must be scrutinised. He further emphasised the need for the Queensland Police Service to cooperate with the coroner and the Crime and Corruption Commission to address this issue.
In 2022, there were 12 firearm discharge incidents by Queensland Police, and in 2023, there were seven. This is a notable increase compared to previous years, with eight incidents in 2019, three in 2021, and 12 in 2024. The data also reveals that of the 51 shootings between 2019 and July 2024, 23 occurred in south-east Queensland, while the rest took place in regional areas of the state.
The high number of police shootings in Queensland has raised concerns about the use of force by law enforcement. Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior attributed the rise in incidents to the increasing danger police officers face in the line of duty. He highlighted that Queensland Police officers undergo extensive firearm training, and that every recent inquest has determined the lawful and justified use of firearms by officers.
However, the situation in Queensland contrasts with the experience in Victoria. In the past two years, Victoria has had just one non-fatal shooting, thanks to a focus on de-escalation tactics and minimising the use of force. This shift in approach was implemented through Project Beacon, a successful re-training program introduced in 1994. Despite this, concerns remain about the rise of the "warrior cop" and the potential negative influence of the COVID pandemic, which has seen police take on more enforcement-focused roles.
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Calls for Queensland to follow Victoria's lead in reducing shooting deaths
In 2022 and 2023, Queensland Police shot more people than police in the rest of Australia combined. In 2022-23, Queensland police shot 14 people, while New South Wales police shot eight, one person was shot in Victoria, one in South Australia, and two in Western Australia.
There have been calls for Queensland to follow Victoria's lead in reducing shooting deaths. Victoria started Project Beacon in 1994, a landmark re-training program that focused on de-escalation of conflict and avoiding or minimising police use of force. In the past two years, there has been just one non-fatal shooting in Victoria. Queensland Police Union of Employees disagreed with the government’s decision to agree to a $30 million payment following a Federal Court ruling that claimants were deemed to have suffered racial discrimination at the hands of police in their response to the 2004 Palm Island riots.
In the past year, there have been multiple instances of police being killed and wounded while on duty in Australia. In December 2022, two Queensland police officers were murdered at a remote property at Wieambilla. The three individuals responsible were later shot dead by police.
The increase in police shootings has been attributed to the rise of the "warrior cop" and the COVID pandemic, which has encouraged a move away from community engagement to enforcing health directives with little room for tolerance. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller instructed his staff to adopt a more enforcement-focused approach to COVID health order restrictions. Similarly, Victoria Police used rubber bullets and other weapons to disperse anti-lockdown protesters.
While policing is an inherently dangerous occupation, it is important to ensure that police do not adopt an enforcement-only mentality and that the use of force is authorised, justified, or excused by law. Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has stated that proactive operations targeting high-risk offenders will help reduce crime and, consequently, the number of police shootings.
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Australian police shot dead 164 people
Australian police shot and killed 164 people, according to the latest report by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC). This represents a 78% increase in fatal police shootings between 2018-19 and 2019-20.
New South Wales and Queensland had the most police shootings, with five each, followed by Victoria and Western Australia, with two each. Queensland had the majority of police shootings in 2022 and 2023. There have been calls for Queensland to follow Victoria's lead in reducing shooting deaths by focusing on de-escalation and minimising the use of force.
The increase in police shootings has sparked concerns about the "weaponisation" of Australian police forces, similar to trends observed in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to this shift, as police took on a more enforcement-focused role in implementing health directives with limited tolerance for non-compliance.
While policing is inherently dangerous, any use of force must be lawful and justified. The application of lethal force, in particular, must be authorised and excused by law to avoid criminal liability. Scrutiny of police shootings is essential to ensure accountability and maintain trust in the justice system.
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A 78% increase in fatal police shootings between 2018-19 and 2019-20
Australia has seen a significant increase in fatal police shootings in recent years, with a particular spike between 2018-19 and 2019-20. During this period, there was a 78% increase in fatal shootings by police, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC). This trend raises concerns about the use of force by law enforcement and the impact on communities, especially Indigenous Australians, who are overrepresented in these incidents.
The AIC report reveals that New South Wales and Queensland led the states with five fatal shootings each, followed by Victoria and Western Australia with two each. In total, 164 people have been shot dead by Australian police over time. While the Indigenous status of some victims was unknown, it is concerning that at least two of those killed were Indigenous Australians, a group that already faces significant social and legal challenges.
The rise in police shootings coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have contributed to a shift in police tactics. As officers were tasked with enforcing health directives, there was a move away from community engagement towards a more enforcement-focused approach. This shift may have influenced the increase in use-of-force incidents. Notably, Victoria Police employed rubber bullets and "less lethal" alternatives like pepper balls and foam baton rounds to disperse anti-lockdown protesters, mirroring the "warrior cop" mentality seen in the United States.
Queensland has come under particular scrutiny for its high number of police shootings. Critics advocate for a review and greater transparency, urging the state to emulate Victoria's progress in reducing shooting deaths through conflict de-escalation and minimising police use of force. While policing is inherently dangerous, the significant increase in fatal shootings demands attention and efforts to address this issue effectively without compromising community safety.
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COVID's impact on police enforcement
COVID-19 has impacted police enforcement in Australia in several ways. Firstly, police officers have had to adapt to new health and safety protocols to minimise the risk of infection. This includes wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks, face shields, and gloves, and maintaining physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 meters away from citizens whenever possible. This change in appearance and physical distance has reportedly made police officers seem less friendly and more intimidating to the public.
Secondly, police forces have had to expand their role and responsibilities to include enforcing emergency regulations, such as mandatory lockdowns, social distancing, travel restrictions, and shutdowns of businesses and private residences. This shift in focus has moved them away from their traditional community engagement role and towards an enforcement-only mentality, which has been referred to as the "rise of the warrior cop". This shift is particularly evident in New South Wales, where Police Commissioner Mick Fuller instructed his staff to adopt a more enforcement-focused approach to COVID-19 health order restrictions, and in Victoria, where police used rubber bullets and pepper balls to disperse anti-lockdown protesters.
The expansion of police powers during the pandemic has raised concerns about human rights violations and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities. In Victoria, for example, disadvantaged communities incurred a disproportionately high number of fines, and there are concerns that culturally diverse and low socio-economic groups are bearing the brunt of COVID-19 policing. There is also worry that the increased powers granted to police during the pandemic may continue even after the health crisis has ended, leading to a potential infringement on civil liberties.
The pandemic has also affected public attitudes towards the police. In Victoria, the state most heavily affected by the social and economic implications of the pandemic, residents reported the least favourable attitudes towards law enforcement and the lowest levels of perceived procedural legitimacy and general trust in the police. Overall, positive public attitudes towards Australian police have decreased since the start of the pandemic.
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Frequently asked questions
Queensland had the majority of police shootings in 2022, but the exact number is not known.
Since 2010, 22 police members have died, five of those through the actions of armed offenders. Four involved firearms and one a knife.
There is concern about the rise of the "warrior cop" in Australia, with police forces becoming increasingly weaponised. There are calls for greater scrutiny of police shootings, with a focus on de-escalation and minimising the use of force.
The COVID pandemic has been a factor, with police enforcing health directives with little room for tolerance and moving to an enforcement-only mentality.
