Victoria Police are defending an officer that was filmed kicking a girl in the stomach.
Authorities were called to St Kilda Beach on the weekend after reports were made of two unruly teenage women causing a ruckus and harassing other beach goers.
On arrival, an officer told the girls to calm down, however one of the women allegedly started swearing and charged towards the cop. New Corp reports the women were allegedly drunk and aggressive.
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A person filming the encounter captured the moment the officer defended himself from the oncoming woman by seemingly kicking her straight in the gut.
Loads of people on social media have backed the officer for using the defence mechanism.
One person said: "I agree he only put his foot up to stop her in her aggressive approach, I think he reacted perfectly well, young ones need to show more respect for the police."
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Another added: "Good defence tactic for the officer, she would have ended up in jail if she would have charged him. She should thank him."
Victoria Police are standing by their officer.
"One of the girls approached an officer in a threatening manner. She did not stop when he asked her to," police said in a statement yesterday (November 23).
"The action used by the officer is deemed appropriate in relation to the aggressive behaviour by the female. The girls continued to act in an aggressive manner, so the officer deployed OC foam to subdue them."
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Police say the two girls were just 16-years-old and they were taken into custody.
"Two 16-year-old girls were subsequently arrested for drunken behaviour and they were released into the care of their parents," police said in their statement.
"Victoria Police are focused on the safety of the community and will not tolerate anti-social behaviour. Victoria Police is running Operation Summersafe to make sure the bayside precincts are safe for all to use."
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