Melbourne teen charged with kicking cop and given bail now back in custody
A Melbourne 17-year-old charged with assaulting a police officer has been arrested for breaching bail conditions, sparking debate over why he was released in the first place.
The Point Cook teenager was bailed in a Children's Court hearing on Tuesday on charges of kicking an officer in the head at Highpoint shopping centre on Boxing Day.
Victoria Police confirmed on Thursday night the teen has been arrested again after breaking a bail condition to stay off his mobile phone.
"Detectives from Maribyrnong Crime Investigation Unit have today remanded a 17-year-old with breaching his bail conditions," a spokeswoman said.
"The Point Cook youth will appear at a children's court."
Bail decision 'incomprehensible' says police minister
Earlier on Thursday, Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said the injured officer and his colleagues felt let down by the youth being granted bail.
Man vanishes where it's 'almost impossible to get lost' after fight
Middle-aged man leaps from his car to tussle with burly bikers in road rage incident
"We have a person in a hospital bed and we have a person in the dock and there seems some confusion over which one of these two is the victim," he told reporters.
Mr Gatt said the courts need to ensure officers are protected, the community can feel safe and police can do their job with confidence.
The Magistrate who granted bail said she did so because the teenager had not committed a crime in 18 months.
The injured officer has since returned to work.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the decision to grant bail was "incomprehensible" and sent a message that injuring a police officer was acceptable behaviour.
The case has sparked debate with 7 News presenter Nick McCallum telling Sunrise granting bail was a betrayal to the police officer concerned.
"I'm glad his bail has been revoked," he said.
"I think the fact he was originally given bail was a betrayal to all police officers in Melbourne."
Smooth FM's Ron Wilson said while he believes in second and third chances for young offenders, he said it should not extend to teens who allegedly kick officers in the head.
