Chief commissioner Shane Patton has backed Victoria Police officers for showing “restraint” while dealing with protesters at the Land Forces rally today.
Patton criticised protesters for being “hypocrites”, describing their conduct in clashes with police as appalling. He said many of those who attended the anti-war protest outside the convention centre intended to cause violence.
Police use pepper spray on protesters.Credit: Chris Hopkins
“They were standing there in full-face balaclavas with ski masks on. There was no snow there,” he said.
He said officers were assaulted and shoved, while some had bottles thrown at them. Balloons were also thrown containing low levels of acid that could cause irritants, such as a rash, he said.
“One [officer] was hit with a beer bottle. One had a full can of baked beans thrown at them. It was appalling behaviour,” he said.
Patton said the use of force by police, which included rubber bullets, flashbang devices and pepper spray, was appropriately deployed.
He rubbished calls for an independent inquiry into police behaviour.
“We have conducted ourselves properly. I couldn’t be prouder of the offices down there and to see the way they used restraint,” he said.
Source Agencies
