Police probe PSO capsicum incident

VICTORIA Police is investigating allegations that a PSO unjustly and repeatedly sprayed two teenage boys with capsicum foam at Springvale Railway Station.
Last week the ABC revealed CCTV footage of the incident on 7 June last year.
It showed two PSOs stopped one of the 17-year-olds and took his details when he jumped the station turnstiles.
He made a run for the train and his friend, who had a valid ticket, followed.
CCTV showed that the officers pursued them, signalled the train to stop and dragged them from the carriage.
Footage also showed the PSOs brought the boy who had a valid ticket to the ground and repeatedly sprayed both boys with capsicum spray.
The ABC said the boy with a ticket was charged with assaulting and hindering PSOs but a magistrate last month acquitted him.
“There is nothing in his behaviour or body language that justifies him being sprayed,” the magistrate is reported to have said.
The ABC said the other boy admitted fare evasion and completed a diversionary program.
Assistant Commissioner Chris O’Neill told the ABC that he had asked for a review of the incident, which would take about six weeks.