Key Takeaways
- An off‑duty WA police officer restrained a 13‑year‑old Noongar Yamatji girl on a Perth train, using his knee to pin her to the floor and later against a window.
- The girl says she struck the officer unintentionally after he pushed her hard during a prior altercation with boys who tried to rob her.
- Bystanders condemned the officer’s actions as an unnecessary escalation, while the girl reported a panic attack, ongoing neck, back and arm pain, and feelings of racism.
- Family members expressed anger but also gratitude toward the bystander who intervened, acknowledging respect for police overall while criticising the use of force.
- WA Police launched an internal investigation, charged the girl with common assault (issued a juvenile caution), and claimed the officer suffered only minor injuries while attempting to de‑escalate the situation.
- Police Minister Reece Whitby, the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children Sue‑Anne Hunter, and the WA Commissioner for Children Jacqueline McGowan‑Jones all called the force excessive and urged a thorough review, describing the incident as a “recipe for disaster” for child‑youth interactions.
- The case has sparked broader debate about racial bias, appropriate de‑escalation techniques for youth, and the need for clearer police training on handling minors.
Incident Overview
On Sunday, 12 April, a video circulated on social media showing an off‑duty police officer in plain clothes physically restraining a 13‑year‑old girl on a Perth train. The footage captures the officer straddling the girl’s body while she lies on the carriage floor, then using his knee to hold her down. After she screams and curses, he stands, lifts her, drops her onto a row of empty seats, and pins her against the window with his leg, telling her to “sit up here. You’re under arrest.” The girl’s head strikes the hard window frame, and she repeatedly says she is not resisting while the officer maintains pressure with his right knee for several minutes.
Girl’s Account of the Altercation
The girl explained to the ABC that prior to the officer’s involvement she and her friends had been confronted by a group of boys who attempted to rob them. During that scuffle the officer pushed her hard in the chest; she reacted instinctively, striking him in the face. She immediately apologized, saying the blow was unintentional because she did not know he was a police officer. She told the ABC, “It was a hard push, I tell you that because I wouldn’t have reacted the way I did if it wasn’t hard,” underscoring that the officer’s initial force provoked her defensive reaction.
Officer’s Actions and Restraint
After the girl’s apology, the officer lunged at her, identified himself as police, and proceeded to restrain her. He placed his right knee firmly on her torso, preventing movement, then lifted her onto seats and pressed his leg against her torso to keep her pinned against the window. The restraint lasted several minutes, during which the girl shouted accusations of excessive force and pleaded for release. The officer responded that he did not want to be punched again, while the girl insisted she had retaliated in the wrong way and demanded he let her go.
Bystander Intervention and Reaction
A fellow passenger intervened, confronting the officer directly and stating, “Honestly, from where I was at, that felt like an unnecessary escalation.” The bystander’s intervention appeared to momentarily shift the officer’s focus, but the girl continued to voice distress, even threatening to have her father “come down here and hurt you” while crying. The bystander’s actions were later praised by the girl and her relatives as a crucial factor that prevented further harm.
Impact on the Girl – Physical and Emotional
The teenager reported suffering a panic attack during the ordeal and continues to experience physical pain in her neck, back, and arm, requiring multiple doctor visits. Emotionally, she described feeling “shook,” hurt, sad, angry, and overwhelmed, attributing much of her distress to perceived racism. She said, “All I felt was racism. I felt hurt, I felt sad, I felt angry, I felt everything at once. I was shook during the whole thing,” and added that without protecting her head she believed she could have been killed.
Family and Community Response
The girl’s adult relative expressed anger at the officer’s conduct, stating, “His actions were quite violent,” while acknowledging respect for WA Police as first responders who assist women in domestic‑violence situations. The relative and the girl thanked the bystander for intervening, with the girl saying, “I have a lot of respect for [him], and I really wouldn’t know what I would have done without him if he wasn’t there.” The incident has resonated within the Noongar Yamatji community, raising concerns about how Indigenous youth are treated by law‑enforcement officials.
Official Statements – WA Police
WA Police confirmed they had launched an internal investigation into the officer’s conduct, noting that the officer remains on operational duties while the review proceeds. A police spokesperson said the officer had intervened in a verbal altercation between two groups of juveniles with the aim of “de‑escalating the situation” and that he sustained only minor injuries. Contrary to the girl’s claim of unintentional contact, police asserted she had been charged with common assault and issued a juvenile caution, framing the encounter as a lawful arrest attempt.
Government and Oversight Responses
Police Minister Reece Whitby told the ABC the matter is “under review as is standard practice,” emphasizing that all officers must act with professionalism and appropriate judgement. Sue‑Anne Hunter, National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, called the video “deeply disturbing and unsettling,” condemning the use of “unreasonable force” and urging an immediate investigation, noting it reflects the daily violence faced by Indigenous children. Jacqueline McGowan‑Jones, WA Commissioner for Children and Young People, declared the officer’s use of force excessive, stating, “Treating children with such force is a recipe for disaster,” and argued that gentler, respectful methods could have resolved the situation without physical assault.
Broader Implications and Calls for Change
The incident has reignited debate about racial bias in policing, particularly concerning the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. Critics argue that the officer’s reliance on painful, immobilizing tactics illustrates a lack of training in child‑appropriate de‑escalation and cultural competency. Advocates are calling for mandatory training on adolescent brain development, non‑violent restraint techniques, and implicit bias awareness, as well as clearer guidelines that prioritize verbal engagement and minimal physical contact when dealing with minors. The public outcry suggests a demand for greater accountability and transparency in internal investigations to restore community trust.
Conclusion and Ongoing Developments
As of the latest updates, the internal investigation remains underway, with the officer still performing regular duties. The girl’s family continues to seek medical care and emotional support, while community leaders press for swift conclusions and potential disciplinary or procedural reforms. The case serves as a stark reminder of the need for law‑enforcement agencies to balance public safety with the protection of vulnerable populations, especially children, and to ensure that force is used only as a last resort and in proportion to the threat posed.
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