Top cop reacts to footage of PSO slapping 11-year-old

Chief commissioner Shane Patton has defended a PSO who allegedly slapped an 11-year-old boy last month.

• Scroll down for footage of the incident

Press PLAY below to hear the top cop’s reaction to the footage

The boy was being restrained by two PSOs at Noble Park Station on Australia Day when he spat at a PSO, who then appears to slap him in the face.

“You call it a slap, I could call it a redirection strike,” Mr Patton told Neil Mitchell.

“There’s no doubt he’s been struck, it’s redirected his face, as you’ll see, away from her. It stopped any further threat, so that is that.”

Mr Patton says the incident has been looked into by police and “at this stage we’re comfortable with what’s been done in relation to the matter”.

Press PLAY below to hear Neil Mitchell’s full interview with Shane Patton

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