NSW Police defend officer caught on camera repeatedly punching man during dramatic train station arrest and reveal what really happened

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 22:38, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 22:50, 7 July 2026 Police have defended the actions of an officer who appeared to repeatedly punch a man pinned to the ground during an arrest at a busy train station. Shocked commuters filmed the confrontation on a platform at Cabramatta train station in Sydney's south-west on Monday night. With one knee pinning the man face down on the ground, the officer appeared to strike his upper body multiple times as bystanders watched on. A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed the force was aware of the six-second video, which showed only 'an isolated moment' of the alleged incident, adding that the officer used an 'approved manoeuvre'. 'Body-worn vision captured by the arresting officers has since been reviewed by the commander,' she told the Daily Mail. Police allege the 21-year-old man later spat at an officer and assaulted several others after he was taken to hospital. He was later charged with 10 offences. Police had been called to the area following reports of a man allegedly armed with a knife acting aggressively towards female commuters at nearby Canley Vale. NSW Police has defended the actions of a police officer during an arrest at Cabramatta train station on Monday night The man allegedly assaulted a male commuter who tried to intervene before boarding a train to Cabramatta, where he allegedly threatened commuters. The man attempted to flee from police at the scene but was arrested following a short foot pursuit. 'During the arrest, police directed the man to show his hands multiple times, following reports from members of the public that he was in possession of a knife,' the spokeswoman said. 'When the man allegedly failed to comply with that direction, the officer used an approved manoeuvre to affect the arrest.' The man was later charged with a string of offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting a frontline emergency worker, hindering or resisting a police officer in the execution of duty, and wilfully interfering with the comfort or safety of others. He was also charged with four counts of assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty. The man appeared in court on Tuesday, where he was refused bail. NSW Police says the officer used an 'approved manoeuvre to affect the arrest' 'NSW Police have confirmed they are reviewing body-worn camera footage, and the full circumstances of the incident should be considered before further comment is made,' Police Minister Yasmin Catley said. Viewers were divided over the officer's actions captured in the footage with some claiming he went too far.  'It’s got to stop,' NSW Greens MLC Sue Higginson wrote. 'This is not policing, this is violence with impunity.  'This is not making our communities safer.  'This person was facedown on the ground already restrained and unarmed.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.