In the early hours of 22 March 1997 an altercation between two Aborigines was being broken up by other Aborigines when police and private security guards arrived, followed by United States military police officers. They arrested seven Aborigines, some of whom were kicked and punched by police officers. The event, which took place in Ipswich, Queensland, was recorded by a security video camera. Amnesty International is concerned that the force used by police in at least three of the arrests was excessive, constituting ill-treatment, and that there are allegations that an injured detainee was denied proper care. There is further concern that this was not an isolated incident, and that reports of numerous similar incidents have been received.
