Challenging Authority: A Case Study of Ideologically-Motivated Assaults on Police Officers in Australia

Kelly Hine; Olivia Gabriel; Katie Davenport-Klunder

doi:10.5204/ijcjsd.3770

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Challenging Authority: A Case Study of Ideologically-Motivated Assaults on Police Officers in Australia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Challenging Authority: A Case Study of Ideologically-Motivated Assaults on Police Officers in Australia

Kelly Hine, Olivia Gabriel and Katie Davenport-Klunder

International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, Vol.15(2), pp.28-42

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5204/ijcjsd.3770

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Abstract

Police administration, procedures and practice

Law enforcement

Ideology

motivation

assaults

sovereign citizens

police

law enforcement

There has been a concerning rise in ideologically motivated assaults on police officers, particularly by individuals challenging the legitimacy of legal authority. Understanding the psychological mechanisms underpinning assaults is crucial for officer safety and effective law enforcement strategies. This study explores ideologically motivated assaults on Australian police through the lens of moral disengagement theory. By examining three specific cases of ideologically motivated assaults on police officers using court findings and coroner's reports, we analyse how offenders justify their actions and the role of ideology in shaping violent encounters. Content analysis revealed that offenders employed all four mechanisms of moral disengagement: moral justification, euphemistic labelling, dehumanisation, and minimisation of consequences. These mechanisms allowed offenders to rationalise, minimise, and justify their violent actions against officers. The findings from this study provide valuable insights into the psychological processes underlying ideologically motivated violence against police, offering directions for future research and practical interventions.

Details

Title: Challenging Authority: A Case Study of Ideologically-Motivated Assaults on Police Officers in Australia
Authors: Kelly Hine (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Olivia Gabriel - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Katie Davenport-Klunder - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Publication details: International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, Vol.15(2), pp.28-42
Publisher: Queensland University of Technology, Crime and Justice Research Centre
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.5204/ijcjsd.3770
ISSN: 2202-8005
Copyright note: Except where otherwise noted, content in this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Organisation Unit: School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991113151902621
Output Type: Journal article

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