THIS should not happen in Australia: a 15-month-old ­Aboriginal boy, still in nappies, locked in the back of a Northern Territory police paddy wagon.

A photographer from News Corp Australia’s Centralian Advocate, Justin Brierty, took this photo outside a notorious block of Alice Springs flats on Thursday afternoon.

“When I heard the child’s voice coming from the back of the paddy wagon, making baby noises, I thought, ‘This is not right,’” said Mr Brierty, who stood his ground when police tried to prevent him taking photos.

He spoke to people in the apartment complex who said police were called after the boy’s young mother, aged 15, was allegedly seen belting the child in public view.

This account was confirmed by Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles, who was briefed by Police Commissioner John McRoberts after News Corp sought answers.

The boy’s mother was seen bleeding from the face after ­allegedly being attacked by her own family members, who were attempting to stop her harming the child.

Five police vehicles attended, along with officers from the Department of Children and Families, at which point the mother allegedly threatened to throw the child on the ground.

Police decided it was best to put them together in the back of the wagon, even though the child was clearly at risk from his mother.

“I think the visuals may not look good but police obviously have to do all they can to calm a volatile situation,” Mr Giles, who is also Police Minister, said.

It’s just bizarre. I understand the police situation but it’s a clear illustration you have to do things better. It’s madness the way we do things.

But head of the PM’s indigenous advisory council Warren Mundine was appalled.

“I’m very shaken by it,” he said. “It’s just bizarre. I understand the police situation but it’s a clear illustration you have to do things better. It’s madness the way we do things.”

Asked if it was appropriate to put such a young child in the back of a police wagon, under any circumstance, NT Police did not respond.

But in a statement to News Corp Australia, they said police approached a young woman with facial injuries who was in a distressed state and holding a small child who was crying.

“A police officer spoke to the young woman and asked to have a look at the child,” police said. “The young woman ­refused the request and swore at the officer.

“The police officers recognised this was a highly volatile situation and their principle concern was the welfare of the child and that young woman.”

They said the woman was “non-compliant in terms of surrendering the child” and was “invited” to sit in the rear of the police vehicle with her child.

Police said they did not want to deal with the situation in the presence of the photographer and “drove the mother and child a short distance in order to achieve a level of privacy that would enable the matter to be resolved”.

They said the mother handed the child to police, was ­arrested for the aggravated ­assault and taken into custody.

The child was taken to Alice Springs Hospital for assessment.

Mr Giles said the child was now under the care of the CEO of children and families.

Originally published as Aboriginal boy in nappies locked in police van