The head of Victoria’s police force has defended the actions of an officer after video of the woman slapping an 11-year-old boy emerged.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said he had viewed the footage and was “comfortable” with the actions taken.
Video of the arrest, obtained by the Herald Sun, appears to show a protective service officer (PSO) slap a young boy who attempted to spit on her during an arrest.
“I’m told that happened on Australia Day at Noble Park station,” Mr Patton told 3AW on Thursday.
“He spat on the PSO, it looks like it got her on the vest, I’m not sure if it got her on the face.
“He then spits on a PSO, that PSO then reacts.
“There’s no doubt he’s been struck. It’s redirected his face, as you’ll see, away from her.”
Mr Patton said protective service officers had been called to the train station where the boy, aged 11, was arrested for another matter.
The officer, he explained, had “not tried to hide away from it”, filing a use of force report and the incident was reviewed by her supervisor.
“It’s been looked at, they were aware their actions are coming under scrutiny,” he said.
“At this stage, we’re comfortable with what’s been done.”
Mr Patten defended the slap as a “redirection strike”, saying it was a reaction by the officer to move the boy’s face away from her.
“It’s stopped any further threat so that is that,” he said.
“His mouth and his head were still moving around and he had spat at her.
“I can’t put myself in the position of her where she’s going I need to stop this occurring.”
Story Credit: news.com.au