Victorian Public Transport Police Appear To Shove Woman To The Floor In Video
It follows two videos last year where Victorian PSOs appeared to use excessive force.
A video of a Victorian Police Service Officer pushing a woman to the ground at Flinders Street Station early on Monday morning is circulating on social media.
In the video, shared by 9 News, the PSO tells the woman to step back before pushing her to the ground, where she appears to slide back and hit the nearby wall to a large smack.
It has been reported the incident happened around 1.30am on Monday. In a statement to 9 News, the Victorian police said the plain-clothed officers were apprehending a man, and had asked the woman in the video to stay back.
“A woman has tried to walk between police and the man they were trying to arrest. A PSO has pushed the woman, causing her to fall to the ground. She has then stood up and walked away from the scene,” the statement read.
“This incident is a timely reminder that arrests are dynamic and potentially dangerous situations. When police are responding to incidents, members of the public need to stand back to give police the space to ensure a safe and timely outcome for all parties.”
The unidentified woman has no made a complaint, though a third-party complaint over the incident has been made. Last February, two videos appeared to show Victorian PSOs using excessive force, seemingly breaking a 16-year-old boy’s ankle while detaining him, and repeatedly striking a man with a baton at Merri Station while arresting him. Victorian police denied both accounts as excessive.
Junkee has contacted the Victorian Police for further information on the Flinders Street Station incident, and will update the article if necessary.
SHOCKING: Vision shows the moment a woman is pushed to the ground by a Protective Services Officer during an arrest in Melbourne’s CBD. #9News
Story:https://t.co/bH6fAPvPOV pic.twitter.com/DtMzGR7AiM— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) March 11, 2019