A video has emerged showing a police officer pinning a 13-year-old Aboriginal girl to the floor of a train before throwing her into a seat causing her to hit her head on the train window, sparking outcry.

The incident occurred on a train travelling from Joondalup in Boorloo's northern suburbs to the central Perth station on Sunday afternoon.

The Public Transport Authority of WA confirmed that the man involved, who is out of uniform in the video, is a WA Police officer.

In a social media post, one girl involved in the incident wrote that it was initially sparked when a group of boys tried to steal from her and her companions, then detailed the alleged actions of the officer involved.

"Yesterday me and 4 of my friends were on a train from Joondalup to Perth on the way a group of boys hopped on a sat down sussing us out, then proceeded to walk up to us and try and take our clothes and accessories. In the mix of it I was hit in the face twice from the group, so me and my aunty hopped up ... trying (to) grab an accessory they had taken of ours," she wrote.

"2 grown men hop up to try stop the situation and 1 of them that claims to be an "undercover officer" says my aunty hit him in the face and starts going off ... my aunty turns around to take a breather then he blames it on me ... then she turns back around and starts apologising.

"I look for my phone to start recording and as soon as I can, as I do he throws her to the ground and places her under arrest, he then throws her up against the window which causes her to smash her head. This is completely disgusting a bunch of boys in a group of six vs 2 girls and you start cussing and trying to arrest us. (fyi: when he was yelling at us we were telling him what happened and he didn't care)."

National Indigenous Times asked WA Police if the matter was being investigated and why the officer used the level of force he used.

A spokesperson for WA Police said the 13-year-old girl had been charged with common assault and issued a juvenile caution.

"About 4pm, Sunday 12 April 2026, it will be alleged a 13-year-old female assaulted an off-duty police officer on a Perth bound train on the Joondalup train line," they said.

"The officer, who was travelling with family members at the time of the alleged incident, received minor injuries and did not require medical treatment.

"The 13-year-old female was charged with one count of 'Common Assault' and was issued a juvenile caution.

"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."

Another social media user wrote: "Shame how this white man thinks he has a right to be standing over and handling a young 13 year old girl like this, she's obviously doing nothing and is trying to defend herself !!! Seriously this shit needs to stop RACISM is so DISGUSTING IN PERTH."

This report was updated with the police response received at 1.02pm, April 16. National Indigenous Times contacted WA Police at 12.51pm on April 15.