A female transport officer has been caught on video slapping a child after he spat in her face.
Video shot by an observer shows two Victorian protective services officers (PSOs) having difficulty restraining a boy who is described as being 11 years old, before he turns and spits at the female officer.
PSOs are employed by Victoria Police and primarily patrol train stations and the public transport system.
As well as spitting it is understood the child ‘repeatedly used a ‘racist slur’, 3AW reported. The video was filmed at Noble Park train station in Melbourne’s south-east on Australia Day.
Shane Patton, Victoria Police’s chief commissioner said the PSOs were called to the station where the boy was ‘arrested as a suspect’.
He would not provide further details of what led up to the boy being restrained. Mr Patton defended the Victoria Police employee and disputed that she even slapped the boy.
‘You called it a slap, I could call it a redirection strike,’ he told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell. ‘I can’t put myself in her position of going ‘I need to stop being spat on’.
‘There’s no doubt that she’s been struck, its redirected his face away from her, it’s stopped any further threat.’ Chief commissioner Patton said the officer shown striking the boy submitted ‘a use of force form’ instead of trying to hide her reaction.
‘At this stage we’re comfortable with what’s been done in relation to that matter.’
Chief commissioner Patton added it was ‘absolutely’ possible the boy could be charged with assault for spitting on the officer.
On social media commenters were mostly supportive of the PSO’s actions. One thought her strike was obviously ‘a reflex action’.
‘Good on her! It’s what was deserved! Parents clearly are not disciplining the brat! ‘ one man said. ‘If my 11 year old child spat on a anyone I’d have no problem with them being slapped,’ said a Melbourne dad.
A Melbourne teacher was one of the few to defend the boy.
‘I have been a teacher, and a disability worker I have been spat at on more occasions than I can count but I never slapped a person.’
Another woman joked that the boy was ‘redirected to respect authority’!