Westfield Marion lockdown chaos: police officer lost review papers after leaving documents on car

A police officer has sparked a new security alert and review after losing papers linked to the Westfield Marion shopping centre meltdown.

An Adelaide police officer has sparked a new security review after they lost documents of a review into the lockdown chaos at the state’s biggest shopping centre.

The officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, “inadvertently” left an official dossier of Westfield Marion-related papers on their police vehicle near a suburban station last month.

A member of the public recovered notes into the June 23 incident, maps, a “tasking incident running sheet”, meeting agenda with Westfield executives and media articles, before handing the bundle into authorities.

While the breach has raised internal concerns and the officer, whose rank cannot be revealed, admitted their “error”, the state’s top cop downplayed concerns of an overall security risk.

Security images revealed the dossier was recovered “intact” within a few minutes while police said the “folded documents” did not divulge confidential methodology or compromise future operations.

Armed police storm the Westfield Marion while it was in lockdown on June 23. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Shoppers fled outside the Westfield centre. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

The incident has triggered a review and “appropriate action” will be taken “if required”, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has disclosed.

While draconian state laws ban any public disclosure of all police discipline, Mr Stevens has granted rare permission for specific incident details to be published.

But Mr Stevens, who is “satisfied” with the “appropriate” armed police and Westfield response, has refused consent for any details to be published that may identify the officer.

Authorities are reviewing the shopping complex response, which was sparked after centre management issued an “armed offender” warning just before 3pm during a busy Sunday.

Distressed customers leave the Westfield Marion where armed gangs were reported inside. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens at the Fort Largs Police Academy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

The southern suburbs centre was locked down as thousands of shoppers feared for their lives amid panic of being caught in the crossfire of a Bondi-style killing spree.

The security drama unfolded after an Adelaide meeting between police and Westfield management in the wake of a teenage brawl that sparked a mass evacuation of the Oaklands Park retail strip.

CCTV revealed the papers lay on a nearby road for 98 seconds before a good Samaritan possessed them for another 15 seconds before returning approaching the station front counter.

Police said the individual did not read, examine, take photographs or share the documents with anyone, no “customers” were in the station.

In response to questions, a police spokeswoman said the force “can confirm an officer inadvertently left documents on the roof of a police vehicle as it left a suburban police station”.

Police at Westfield Shopping Centre in Marion after reports of an active shooter inside, which were later proven to be incorrect. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

A security guard and armed police woman outside the centre during the lockdown. Picture: Brett Hartwig

But Mr Stevens “has not authorised the publication of any details that may identify the officer” including their name, rank and the incident’s location, she added.

“The documents were subsequently located by a member of the public directly adjacent (to) the police station driveway and were immediately returned to the station,” she said.

“The incident was an unfortunate, innocent oversight by the officer involved. The officer has admitted their error.

“The documents involved do not represent a security risk for police, divulge any … methodology not already in the public arena or compromise any … operations moving forward.

“SA Police take the security, storage and handling of all documents seriously, with policies and protocols governing this.

“Any incidents such as this are reviewed and appropriate action taken if required.”

She said police “thanked the individual for returning the documents promptly”.

A gang of three armed boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged with assault, affray and aggravated robbery after a fight over a $155 “hoodie” jumper.

The accused youths, of Adelaide, Mitchell Park and Morphett Vale, return to court in August.

Originally published as Westfield Marion lockdown chaos: police officer lost review papers after leaving documents on car