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ABC News
ABC News
National
By Talissa Siganto

Policeman appears to hit Indigenous woman in Charters Towers in video posted on social media

The Queensland Ethical Standards Command will review an incident in the state's north after a "disturbing" video emerged showing a police officer appearing to strike a woman several times in the face.

Footage of the alleged altercation in Charters Towers posted to social media shows two women attempting to shield a teenager while police officers and the women are heard yelling at each other.

A policeman appears to hit one woman in the face with his open palm, while his colleague tries to intervene and separate the pair.

The women in the video can be heard screaming "Let her go" and "This is unnecessary, why is this happening?".

"She's under arrest," said one of the officers.

Neighbours told the ABC police were called to a house in Towers Street where two groups were involved in an altercation.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said police had a "hard job" but there could be circumstances that were not known.

"We need people to respect them whilst they're doing that hard work but what I would say is we need to let that investigation to take place," she said.

"The video is quite disturbing," she said.

In a statement, Queensland Police said they were reviewing the "full circumstances" of the incident.

"The actions of both the police and those involved were recorded on police body-worn video," a spokesman said.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said he supports the officers involved "100 per cent".

"They had a job to do and the parents wanted to get involved and their actions really say it all," he said.

Mr Leavers said the officer who was allegedly attacked by a woman in the vide showed "great restraint".

"If you want to spit or bite an officer you can expect the full force...That is unacceptable," he said

"Is there wonder we have juvenile crime when we have parents behaving like that."

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