Commissioner condemns ‘unreasonable force’ by police officer on child

The Commissioner for Indigenous Children has condemned the “unreasonable force” used by an off-duty police officer against a 13-year-old girl on a Perth train.

Sue-Anne Hunter said the video circulating online over the past 24 hours was deeply disturbing and unsettling to watch.

“This is a representation of the violence that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people can face every day. As a nation, we have work to do to better protect them,” she said.

The National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People condemned the use of alleged unreasonable force.

“Our work is grounded in the protection and promotion of the rights and well-being of First Nations children and young people,” she said.

“This video is an example of the damaging entrenched colonial attitudes towards First Nations peoples, which leads to our children being demonised and dehumanised.”

The National Commission has called on the Western Australian police to immediately conduct an investigation into this matter.

National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Sue-Anne Hunter.

The video of the incident involving a group of teenagers on a Joondalup line train last weekend showed an off-duty police officer intervening.

WA police have confirmed the girl was charged with assault over the incident.

“The 13-year-old female was charged with one count of ‘common assault’ and was issued a juvenile caution,” a police spokesperson said.

“Relevant evidentiary material, including Public Transport Authority CCTV, has been obtained and is being reviewed by the WA Police Force as part of standard process.”

WA Police has confirmed an internal investigation is ongoing.