Western Australia Police are currently looking into an incident on a Perth train where an off-duty officer restrained a 13-year-old girl. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the train, which is part of standard practice, but the Public Transport Authority is keeping its recordings confidential for the time being. However, video footage taken by the girl’s friend has surfaced on social media.
The amateur video captures the off-duty officer pinning the girl to the ground and later pushing her into a seat during an altercation on the Yanchep Line around 4pm on Sunday. Friends of the girl can be heard in the background, anxiously shouting “her head, her head,” as the officer appears to have the girl in a compromising position at one point.
According to police statements, the confrontation began when the 13-year-old allegedly punched the off-duty officer in the face while he was intervening in a verbal dispute between two groups of passengers.
Even though no formal complaints have been filed by those involved, the police are examining the officer’s actions during the incident. It is noteworthy that he remains on active duty while the investigation unfolds.
The situation continues to develop, drawing attention to the protocols surrounding police conduct and their interactions with minors in public settings.