The New South Wales Police Force has rejected claims a forced removal of multiple Aboriginal children was carried out at gunpoint.
Footage of the raid, which aired in an exclusive report by NITV News, showed police in riot gear entering the NSW home about 6.30am to remove the children earlier this year.
The footage has sparked outrage around the country, with many questioning the police's heavy-handed approach.
But in a statement to NITV, a spokesperson for the NSW Police said officers acted professionally in executing the warrant.
"Eight children aged between 1 and 13, who had been identified as being at risk, were removed from a home…by FACS," the statement read.
"Police attended to prevent any breach of the peace or public order incident.
"Police acted professionally at all times. No guns were drawn, nor were any charges laid and no person was prevented from leaving the reserve."
Watch the original report below:
The parents, who were asleep when the raid began, told NITV News they awoke to find guns pointed at them and that they were then handcuffed by police as the children were forcibly removed in front of them.
It was alleged the children's aunt and grandfather were also handcuffed and detained by police during the raid.
The children were placed in temporary foster care, but are now back with their parents.
The New South Wales Greens have called for answers as to why such heavy-handed force was used in the removal of these children.
MLC David Shoebridge said the children remained traumatised and the process and its impact on the children needed to be investigated.
"(This is a) deeply troubling story of a family that's been woken soon after dawn," he said.
"[Police armed with] shields, helmets, assault rifles, the mother and father taken from their beds, shaken from their beds, handcuffed naked, children marched out at gunpoint."
A spokesperson for the Minister for Family and Community Services, Gabrielle Upton said the riot police were present for the protection of caseworkers.
"The Department of Family and Community Services has a very good working relationship with NSW police.
"NSW police provide critical protection in often very complex and difficult child protection matters."
"Police only attend a child protection issue after a stringent risk assessment."
Speaking on NITV tonight, the children’s father said he and his partner had lost a baby to Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in December last year and they believed the raid was connected to the death.
He said the coroner had confirmed the baby died of SIDS but the couple had received no support.
"We've received nothing but torture, pain and emptiness inside our home, heart and sould and in our mind," he said.
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