Victoria’s top cop backs PSO who was allegedly caught slapping child during arrest

Victoria’s top cop has defended a PSO after footage reveals her allegedly slapping a child during an arrest in Melbourne’s southeast.

The state’s top cop has defended the actions of a PSO who was caught on camera allegedly slapping an 11-year-old boy.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton described the officer’s action as a “redirection strike”.

“PSOs were there as a result of Metro (Trains) calling them,” Mr Patton said of the Australia Day incident on 3AW Radio.

He said the 11-year-old boy was being “arrested as a suspect” for another matter.

“He then spits on a PSO, that PSO reacts, I call it a redirection strike,” Mr Patton said.

“We can all interpret these things differently.

“You can call it a slap, there’s no doubt he’s been struck, it’s stopped any(thing) further.”

PSOs arrest a boy at Noble Park train station.

Mr Patton said the officers involved were aware at the time of the arrest that their actions would be captured on CCTV and later scrutinised by the force.

The top cop said he was confident supervisors had assessed the arrest and the PSO would not be reprimanded for the strike.

“It has been looked at,” Mr Patton said of the arrest.

“We are comfortable with what has been done with this matter.”

He said the 11-year-old may be charged.

“We haven’t had the opportunity to explore that (charges),” he said.

“There are other matters involved.”

The footage obtained by the Herald Sun captures the tense arrest.

The young boy, who is wearing a grey Nike hoodie, matching grey tracksuit pants, black sneakers and a black crossbody bag, was being handcuffed by two PSOs when he spat on the female officer.

The officer then appears to allegedly slap the boy in the face.