IBAC looking into forceful arrest by Victorian PSOs

Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog is looking into the arrest of a man struck with a baton and pepper-sprayed by protective service officers in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old was charged with assault after allegedly threatening to throw a PSO onto the train tracks at Merri station at Northcote on Wednesday night.

The state's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) said it was seeking more information from Victoria Police about the incident, which was filmed by a bystander.

"I could see the PSOs just hitting this man repeatedly with the baton," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"It was quite shocking."

The force's Professional Standards Command was also investigating the actions of the officers.

But Chief Commissioner Graham Aston said the level of force used may have been justified.

"(He) was making threats to the PSO, including threatening to throw the PSO off the platform onto the tracks," Mr Aston told the radio station.

"When people resist arrest, they don't just put their hands behind their back to be arrested for an assault like that - it can be very confronting."

The 26-year-old of no fixed address allegedly became abusive after being approached by the PSOs and physically assaulted one of them.

He was later charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency services worker and two counts of resisting arrest.

Superintendent Alison Boyes on Thursday told reporters the man was "very aggressive" and quite difficult to restrain.

"One of the PSOs suffered an injury to his face and we also believe (the man) was spitting at the PSOs," she said.

The man is due to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on July 6.