A photograph circulated by the family of a 16-year-old Indigenous girl, showing her ankles bound in chains and locked to the underside of a hospital bed, has provoked anger among community figures in Perth and a formal defence of current custodial restraint practices by the Western Australian Department of Justice.
What happened
The teenager, who mysteriously cannot be named for legal reasons and who gave birth several months ago, was taken into custody and subsequently transferred to hospital in the custody of Department of Justice staff for an undisclosed medical matter. Her family have alleged that police used excessive force during the arrest, including dragging her while she was topless. The family say she had scratches to her breasts and stomach when visited in hospital.
Official response and policy
A spokesperson for the Western Australian Department of Justice told reporters it could not comment on the specific case but said restraining people in custody is conducted in accordance with departmental policies and procedures. The department emphasised that:
- restraint measures are used "where a person in custody is being treated in an unsecured medical facility" as part of standard custodial management;
- medical practitioners can request that restraints be modified or removed where they are deemed clinically necessary; and
- the measures are intended to protect the person in custody, hospital staff, custodial officers and the wider community.
A spokesperson for Western Australia Police said a review of officer body-worn camera footage had been conducted in relation to the arrest; the statement provided to media about that review was not completed in the material released by the family.
Community reaction
The image has drawn sharp criticism from Indigenous leaders and advocates in Perth. Mervyn Eades, a Noongar man and community advocate, described the practice of using shackles in such circumstances as an "abomination", stressing the historical connotations the sight of chains evokes for Indigenous people.
"We're talking about a child, not a serious criminal," Mr Eades said. "With past atrocities against our peoples I look at those chains on her legs and I automatically think of colonisation and how our people were placed in them."
The teenager's grandmother, who cannot be named to protect the girl's identity, told reporters she found the use of shackles in hospital "appalling" and appealed for her grandchild to be treated "like a human being because she is one."
Facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age of person | 16 |
| Location | Perth hospital (in custody) |
| Allegations about arrest | Family say she was dragged and had scratches; matter under review |
| Department response | Restraints used under policy in unsecured medical settings; clinicians can request adjustments |
The incident has reignited wider debate in Perth and across Western Australia about the treatment of children and Indigenous people in custody, the use of restraints in medical settings and the transparency of reviews following contested arrests. Community advocates argue the image is symptomatic of a broader distrust between Indigenous communities and policing and custodial institutions, while government bodies reiterate their duty of care and safety obligations.
At present, the Department of Justice has framed restraints as a safety measure, and medical staff retain the authority to alter or remove them where clinically necessary. The family's account, supported by the photograph, has prompted calls locally for clearer guidance and greater scrutiny of when and how physical restraints are applied to people in custody receiving medical care.
Local agencies and advocacy groups in Perth have indicated they will be following any formal findings from the departmental review and any further statements issued by Western Australia Police.
