The Federal Liberal MP Dave Sharma has said he is “alarmed and sickened” by video footage of a police officer kicking an indigenous teenager multiple times during an arrest in Sydney this week.
The 17-year-old boy was arrested on Monday in Surry Hills after footage showed a police officer holding his hands behind his back and kicking his feet out from underneath him, before dumping him to the ground.
Footage capturing the moment went viral on social media and now the Professional Standards Command is investigating the incident.
“Obviously, I would want the internal police investigation to do its job,” Mr Sharma, who is the neighbouring electorate MP for Wentworth told ABC news.
“I think anyone who saw the footage … can't be but alarmed and sickened by it.”
The teenager's sister, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told triple j's Hack the footage upset her deeply.
“When he came back home later that night, he was shaken up,” she said.
“He was very sore this morning and he was distraught.
“Teenagers, they're lippy, but you don't just abuse children because they're lippy.”
She went on to say the police were not mindful of the US protests following the death of George Floyd, otherwise, they would not have behaved in that way.
“The amount of support and the people that have been raising awareness about it — it's overwhelming.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that “we still have a long way to go in our country” when asked about the incident.
“What happened in the US is a good wake-up call for all of us, and I think that all of us have our hearts breaking as to what's happening in the United States,” she said.
“And we have to ensure that we can do what we can in our own country to protect all of our citizens.”
Central Metropolitan Region Commander Mick Willing said it was paramount for the investigation to run its course, but added he was wary of the current environment and global anti-police protests.
“Am I concerned about what I've seen in that footage? Absolutely, I am concerned, but I'm equally concerned about others who may use this footage to inflame it and turn it into something that it's not,” he said.
The teenager has since been released without any charges.
The officer involved was a junior constable who has now been placed on restricted duties while the investigation continues.
(Facebook: Justice For Buddy, Lewis Kelly Jnr)
This article originally appeared on Over60.