Allegations that police punched an Aboriginal teenager in the face and released him without charge are among claims of police misbehaviour in far west New South Wales.

Community members in Broken Hill are concerned about the impact of what they say is heavy-handed policing on Indigenous youth in the region, where tension between locals and law enforcement has long been high.

"It's quite disheartening to see, and quite shocking to see, the heavy ways in which young [Indigenous] people can be treated," former Broken Hill criminal lawyer Jalal Razi said.

"They're just approached through this prism of suspicion and guilt."

One such case involved an Aboriginal teenager who was allegedly bloodied and missing his two front teeth when he emerged from a room in the Broken Hill police station.

His grandmother, who was anxiously waiting to see him in reception, said her then-17-year-old grandson had been frightened and quiet.

She had driven to the police station after taking a call from her daughter, who said the boy had been punched by a police officer, subjected to capsicum spray, and arrested.

She said her grandson was eventually released without any charges laid, or an explanation for his injury.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous to avoid her family being the subject of police attention, said her grandson had told her he did not want to go to the hospital, see a solicitor, or make a complaint against the police.

"He said, 'No, Nanna, just come on. Let's get out of this. I don't like this'," she said.

"It was sad to see him like that, and what these police can do to the kids."

Allegations of mistreatment

The ABC has confirmed an account of the incident, which happened in July 2017, with two independent eyewitnesses.

The boy was arrested after an incident in Creedon Street, Broken Hill. ( ABC News: Jacqueline Breen )

The boy, who they said had not been in trouble with the police before, had been drinking with a group of people at a property on Creedon Street when police were called because of an altercation between members of the group.

The exact nature of the altercation was not clear.

The witnesses said the boy was not acting aggressively, but officers handcuffed and capsicum-sprayed him, and one of them punched him in the face when he struggled.

The Barrier Police District said it would not comment on specific cases, but it investigated all reported incidents.

"Barrier Police District works for and with the communities to drive down crime. This is through the lawful use of police powers," a police spokesman said.

"Where sufficient evidence exists, action is taken either under the Young Offenders Act or placing people before the courts."

Fifteen-year-old 'whacked' by officer

Wilcannia woman Leetisha Jones says a police officer 'whacked' her 15-year-old son with the end of his torch. ( ABC News: Declan Gooch )

Less than a year earlier, in December 2016, a separate but similar incident allegedly occurred in Wilcannia, about 200 kilometres east of Broken Hill.

Leetisha Jones, a Barkindji woman from Wilcannia, said her then-17-year-old son had been arrested by police over a bicycle they believed he had stolen.

She said when her other son, then 15, touched the arresting officer on the shoulder and said, "Let my brother go", the policeman used his torch to hit him on the head.

Ms Jones said her son had been bleeding from the blow, then police started using capsicum spray on people at the scene.

"For days it was just getting to me, thinking that someone with a lot of force could do that to your child, you know?" she said.

The Barrier Police District did not address the specific allegations in its statement.

The police spokesman said local frontline officers would be receiving body-worn video cameras this year.

"This, as an impartial way to record police and community interactions, is a welcomed technology to clearly show what happens when police attend jobs, often in the most difficult of circumstances."

Youth carry receipts to prove clothes aren't stolen

Former Broken Hill-based criminal lawyer Jalal Razi says police see Indigenous youth through a "prism of suspicion and guilt". ( Supplied: Jalal Razi )

Mr Razi said in his experience as a criminal lawyer in the far west, Indigenous children felt humiliated by repeatedly being stopped by police.

"There would be kids that would be put on the Suspect Target Management Plan, so other police would … proactively go and police them," he said.

"So kids that you wanted to have less and less dealings with the justice system would all of a sudden be stopped and searched in public places, and it led to a lot of anger, and a lot of humiliation, and disempowerment."

Broken Hill woman Kathleen Ebsworth said in 2017 her son and his friends were stopped by police on the way back from buying slushies from the service station, and asked where they got the money.

She said she now told her children to carry receipts for new items in case police asked for them.

The Barrier Police District said all locals had the opportunity to give feedback about policing at Police and Aboriginal Community Consultation meetings.

"These are opportunities to talk with local communities about issues, as well as present information and answer questions about policing," the spokesman said.

"Local police and our Aboriginal community liaison officers (ACLOs) are also involved in meeting with men's groups and other groups in each of our communities as part of day-to-day policing."

Some victims 'less likely to be taken seriously'

Barkindji man Andrew O'Connor says police did not take his complaint seriously because of his past behaviour. ( ABC News: Declan Gooch )

There is a widespread feeling among Aboriginal locals that their criminal history, or their family's, also makes it difficult for them to get help from police when they are victims of crime.

According to his police statement and medical records, Barkindji man Andrew O'Connor was left with a fractured jaw from a punch to the face in Broken Hill on January 27.

Mr O'Connor said officers had taken formal statements from the alleged attacker and another witness who knew him, but not from Mr O'Connor's wife or aunty, who were witnesses.

He said no charges had been laid.

"It is because of my background, my criminal history, being in and out of trouble since I was a young fella," Mr O'Connor said.

"If you're Indigenous, the police will turn a blind eye to you really, unless you're committing the crimes — then they want to track you down."

Mr Razi said he had seen similar dynamics at play during his time as a lawyer in the far west.

"You'd hear different officers make the same sort of remarks about particular family groups," he said.

"Certain groups were treated in a much more heavy-handed way, or were much less likely to be taken seriously when they were victims of crime and they were coming forward to complain."

'Random Black Test'

Barkindji woman Julie Bugmy says police random breath tests have become known as "Random Black Tests". ( ABC News: Declan Gooch )

Barkindji woman and local community leader Julie Bugmy said her friends and relatives had become so used to being stopped by police for a random breath test, the acronym RBT had taken on a new meaning.

"We call it the Random Black Test," Ms Bugmy said.

"That's the talk now when we get pulled up. It's something natural we all say now and it's really sad."

Indigenous people in Broken Hill were taught about their right to film their interactions with police as part of the Copwatch program last year. ( ABC Broken Hill: Sofie Wainwright )

Mr Razi said Indigenous people could be unfairly targeted, partly because of racism within the police force.

"The humanity of Aboriginal people is so often lost in the way that police deal with [them in the far west], and that's why their voices aren't given the same time and space as non-Aboriginal people," he said.

"Police should have training in what structural racism is, and training and learning to identify unconscious bias, so that when it does pop up in decision-making, they can recognise it and they can deal with it."

Police said new officers received induction packages delivered by ACLOs and cultural awareness training to give them an understanding of local history and culture.

"This includes meeting with elders and community members in each of the areas where they are stationed," the spokesman said.

"About 10 per cent of our police strength in Barrier Police District are Aboriginal police officers serving the communities."

Addressing the problems

Indigenous locals in Wilcannia and Broken Hill want more input into police strategies and changes to the complaints process. ( ABC News: Sofie Wainwright )

Some suggestions from locals to improve relations include an overhaul of the police complaints process, involving more Aboriginal people in the development of strategies, and providing officers with training to recognise racism.

"There should also be external accountability processes, so that with things like police complaints, there is an outside assessment of decision-making and what's going on," Mr Razi said.

"There was a real lack of confidence, both from myself as a lawyer, but definitely from community members, [in] the integrity and the rigour and the accountability of the [complaints] process."

The Barrier Police District said all its actions were subject to scrutiny.

"There is a robust complaints system in place," the spokesman said.

"This includes review and oversight of every complaint, investigation and its outcomes [or] findings."