Police defend Pell court escort

The state’s chief police commissioner has defended the decision to allocate more than 20 officers to escort Cardinal George Pell to and from court on Wednesday.

There were chaotic scenes – more than 100 people, mostly members of the media – jostling for position as the 76-year-old walked to and from the Magistrates’ Court for a brief filing hearing on historic sexual offence charges.

Graham Ashton told Neil Mitchell police hadn’t ruled out taking the Cardinal through another entrance to avoid the scrum in future.

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