Racist, Sexist And Homophobic Australian Police Group Under Investigation

Queensland Police has started an investigation into a Facebook group that has been described as 'racist, sexist and homophobic'.

'Defend the Blue' boasts more than 3,500 members on the social media site and you can only get in if you're a currently serving or former officer.

Their official motto is: "We the unappreciated must do the unimaginable and see the unthinkable to protect the ungrateful."

According to The Australian, some of the posts rally against the Black Lives Matter movement, state politicians (including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk), and the arrest of Northern Territory cop Zachary Rolfe for the alleged shooting of an Aboriginal teenager.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll told News Corp: "The content brought to my ­attention is incredibly concerning, disappointing and definitely does not reflect the values of our organisation or the majority of our people.

"Due to the nature and content of the posts, I must investigate and take any action appropriate to cease the continued publication of this highly inappropriate and ­offensive material."

An urgent investigation has been launched into the group, which will attempt to sniff out who is involved and whether any of the posts break the Queensland Police's social media policies.

The Force said it is 'disgusted' by some of the content on the page.

An officer, who anonymously spoke to The Australian, said: "It is full of sexist, homophobic and racist posts and it seems a blind eye has been turned to it.

"It is run by a small minority and the numbers on the page are a concern but most police are decent and frustrated about the lack of action.''

Officers have since been warned that any posts on social media can be used against them as they could be interpreted as being representative of the Queensland Police Force.

Commissioner Carroll said cops need to clean up their act when it comes to their online presence.

"The comments circulating about fellow officers and members of parliament on some so-called 'closed' social media groups are deeply concerning, nasty, defamatory, and, quite frankly, it beggars belief,'' she wrote in an email to the entire Force.

"There are many of you who are 'passive' members of these groups and I would ask you to ­reconsider your membership, as your tacit support gives them a sense of legitimacy."

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Featured Image Credit: Queensland Police/Facebook

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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