Victoria Police officer to cop it for rude anti-protester sign
A photograph of a Victoria Police officer wearing a sticker reading ‘EAD hippy’ at this week’s climate protests has gone viral on social media.
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An anti-riot officer could face disciplinary action over a crude message stuck to his body camera.
A photo of the officer wearing a sticker reading ‘EAD hippy’ at this week’s climate protests has gone viral on social media. EAD is an acronym for ‘eat a d--k’.
Victoria Police spokesman Cameron Scott said last night: “We have identified the police officer … and can confirm the image is real.
“We are still working to ascertain how and why this comment was on his camera.
“The community can be reassured this is not the type of behaviour we expect from our officers and we are extremely disappointed by the situation.”
An investigation would be launched, with involvement from Professional Standards Command, and disciplinary action would be considered, he said.
A woman also on Friday claimed she was hit in the jaw by an officer during the four-day protest at the International Mining and Resources Conference at Melbourne’s Convention Centre, with footage of the incident released on social media.
A police statement said: “The vision circulating … is described as a ‘palm strike’. This is a clearance technique used by an officer in order to move on the protesters from the space they were occupying and prevent the protesters from being able to assault police.”
Police defended claims of heavy-handed tactics in the statement, lambasting violent protesters.
“These people were wearing face masks and were deliberately confrontational and on many occasions, physical,” the statement read.
“Their intention to cause us harm and the members of our community harm is evidenced by their desire to hide their identity and avoid accountability for their unlawful activity, their violence and their abuse of the rights of law abiding citizens.”
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Officers suffered cuts, bruises and, in the worst cases, dislocated bones and head injuries in flare-ups during the week.
“Police do not go to work to be engaged in this kind of physical confrontation. People are entitled to conduct peaceful protests and we facilitate these protests across Melbourne on a regular basis,” the statement read.
“Our officers have done an excellent job in very challenging conditions, facing hostility and heightened violence.”