The arrest of a pregnant Victorian woman for alleged incitement was "entirely reasonable", despite police conceding it wasn't a good look.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius has defended the officers who made the arrest, but acknowledged it made for "terrible" viewing.
The Victorian Bar has raised concerns after video of the arrest was made public, saying her arrest "appeared disproportionate to the threat she presented".
The video has sparked a social media storm, with the 28-year-old woman shown being handcuffed in her Ballarat home on Wednesday afternoon.
"I would be the first to acknowledge the optics, for want of a better description, arresting a pregnant female, it's never going to look good," Mr Cornelius said on Thursday.
"I've seen the footage, and you know, in my assessment, the members have conducted themselves entirely reasonably."
The woman was arrested and charged with incitement for allegedly organising an anti-lockdown protest on Saturday in Ballarat.
Mr Cornelius said the officers were polite and professional and rearranged a hospital appointment after the woman said she was going to be late for an ultrasound.
He added police, like the virus, don't discriminate.
"We said we would be coming out and we would be holding people to account and that's exactly what we've done," Mr Cornelius said.
"If someone looked me in the eye ... and they said, 'I didn't know I couldn't protest' I have to say, 'come on, don't take me for a fool'."
The woman said she did not realise the protest was illegal, given Ballarat's stage-three restrictions, but is also unrepentant.
"I had a bit of a bimbo moment and I actually didn't realise that it wasn't okay," she told 3AW on Thursday.
"I probably wouldn't change anything."
Several media outlets have identified her as Zoe Buhler.
Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said ignorance was no defence to committing a crime and backed the actions of the officers.
"I can't point to a single thing any one of my members has done incorrectly," he said.
But Victorian Bar president Wendy Harris QC said under state law, a police officer is not entitled to use handcuffs merely because an arrest has been made.
The statement added that the police response "is apparently at odds" with how authorities have dealt with similar protests, either planned or carried out.
But Mr Cornelius said the nationwide "Freedom Day" rallies planned for Saturday warranted no comparison to a Black Lives Matter event in June, which attracted thousands.
In June, Melbourne was yet to come under the current strict stage-four restrictions that ban public gatherings such as protests.
Three men have been arrested for incitement over the planned Saturday protest at inner-Melbourne locations, including the Shrine of Remembrance.
About 80 people have also been warned formally by police not to attend the protest.
"By all means, protest online, be the keyboard warrior, say all sorts of unpleasant and uncharitable things about people urging you to behave sensibly, but do it online," Mr Cornelius said.
"Don't leave home to do it."
Australian Associated Press
