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Article Police accused of ‘heavy-handed’ restraint of young boy

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A woman recorded a boy being held down by four officers at a Victorian railway station.

She has accused the police being heavy-handed with the child.

The 70-second clip filmed on her mobile phone shows the child doubled over on the ground of the Bendigo train station, as four male officers restrain him.

One of the cops hold him down can be heard saying: “That is ridiculous, you’re not going to hurt my members or me, OK?” while the boy wriggles on the ground.

The boy cries out, trying to communicate with the officers and at one point he says, “Let go of me” and tries to explain himself.

The officer tells him: “Shut up. You had your opportunity.”

“He’s a child!” the woman shouts out. “Are you going to pepper spray him? Tazer him next?”

The man adds: “He’s a kid, mate, come on.”

One of the cops says the boy is autistic and doesn’t understand, and explains he was running around on the roof at risk of danger to himself and others.

“I can’t let him kick people, and I can’t let him stand on top of the railway station, where he’s going to hurt himself,” the cop told her.

A police spokesperson later told 7 News Online officers checked with the child’s family and he does not in fact suffer from the developmental condition.

“Members arrested a 12-year-old boy during which he resisted arrest and reasonable force was used to execute the arrest,” a Victoria Police spokesperson told 7 News Online.

“No injuries were reported as a result of the arrest.”

You can view the clip below

Do you think their actions were extreme?

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Comments

  • There are two sides to every story and it would be out of character for a police officer to go over the top on a child… they are just trying to do their job…

    • It would be quite interesting to get both sides of this story and then be able to comment.

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  • There is not enough information or footage of before the arrest to know what was occurring and the reason for four officers to arrest the child. I do not know about police protocols etc or the situation to comment at this point.

    Reply

  • This video doesn’t show what went on before the boy was restrained. He was endangering his own life and possibly others lives. He also lets rip with some choice words during the video. I don’t think unecessary force was used. He’s only bring held on the ground so he doesnr hurt anyone

    Reply

  • Another case of the officers being extreme in their actions.

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  • If there was a chance that boy could endanger himself or others then, yes, he should be restrained – but 4 officers – seems way ott to me!

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  • When the boy was kicking and standing on top of the railway station, there sure was reason to restrain him in my opinion. But 4 adult male is a lot.
    That being said children and adult in fury can be enormous strong.
    Hope the video will be seen by the head of their office. Think the 4 police officers should be questioned by their supervisors.

    Reply

  • I highly doubt that 4 police officers would waste their time holding down a child if they didn’t need to?

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  • I don’t necessarily have a problem with restraint, but 4 adult males to one child does seem excessive.

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  • I am not sure I can judge the police behaviour. If they thought it was a risky situation, I tend to think they did what they thought was best.

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  • Young boys/girls can be violent and hurt others. I don’t have a problem with restraining children if it’s for their own safety and the safety of others.

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  • Yet if I physically restrain my grand daughter, also 12, to stop her hurting herself or others, I am reported to DHS and have a permanent mark on my record. One old lady , with chronic pain issues, and a 12 yr old. But it’s ok for four big healthy strong police officers to restrain a 12 year old in a much harsher manner and it is just a necessary precaution to avoid injury?????????????? Sorry but this is WRONG

    • Your situation is different. Yours seems to be a constant day to day battle. Different restraining a child on a daily basis. I’m thinking bigger things may be going on with you too as DHS is involved. If you can’t cope with the 12yo, maybe you need to consider other options

    Reply

  • I don’t think it takes four men to stop a 12 year old boy but if he’s putting himself or others at risk then he does need to be stopped.

    Reply
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