Facebook says it couldn't access encrypted messages even if the Turnbull government forced it to. Credit:Reuters The Facebook post went live about 9:30am and was taken down about 12:30pm, just after WAtoday contacted the office of Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan and police media. A police media spokesman dismissed the offensive comments saying the officer was "over-exuberant" in the language he used. "Police officers understandably become frustrated sometimes by the behaviour of repeat offenders," he said. However, Mr Hammond said the post was "totally inappropriate".

Courts. "[They] could bring police into disrepute. It is also highly prejudicial to the victim," he told WAtoday. "The comments should have not been made. This is totally inappropriate conduct. Perth lawyer John Hammond. "The police commissioner would be outraged by the comments. It's an amazing story."

Mr Hammond said no Facebook comment by police should be posted prior to the hearing of the charges against an accused. "Vilifying an accused publicly to this degree is no different to putting the accused in stocks in Forrest Chase and pelting him with tomatoes," he said. "Calling an accused 'a terrified piglet' and a 'cerebrally challenged waste of skin' is abusive and unnecessary, and brings law enforcement into disrepute. "The majority of serving police would not support this type of commentary." Mr Hammond didn't want to comment on the outcome of the case, but did say it could create a problem for the prosecution.

The Facebook comments also breach just about every rule in the WA Police Code of Conduct . Under the "our values" the code stipulates "empathy" to ourselves, our victims and vulnerable groups within our community. Under "respect" the code claims conduct should be based on human dignity, cultural awareness, respect for individual needs and differences, respect in our communications to individuals and groups in the community and to each other. It also appears the post breaches the South East Metro District WA Police Facebook page terms of use. "When commenting on this page, we ask that you follow our 'Terms of use' guidelines below. Please do not post messages that contain: anything that could be considered prejudicial, off-topic, inflammatory, repetitive, offensive, defamatory, discriminatory, denigrating or otherwise inappropriate," it states.

The police Facebook page's Terms of Use. Credit:Facebook. The Facebook post starts off innocently enough. "A 24-year-old man ended up in a police cell this morning after his well-crafted plans went astray," the post read. Then it very rapidly dives into dangerous territory. "This cerebrally challenged waste of skin was arrested, following a short car chase and an even shorter foot chase," it reads.

"At around one o'clock this morning, whilst patrolling the Welshpool area, police from response north spotted a grey ute driving past them in the opposite direction. "At the sight of the police car, the driver made a face like a startled rabbit in headlights and sped up." The post continues to tell how police continued their chase through the southern suburbs, until the alleged offender fled on foot. It then describes how officers unleashed police dog Mako with the Facebook post continuing to mock the alleged offender. "It was probably at this point that our car thief realised that disguising himself as a pool hose had not worked too well when Mako's toothy maw clamped round his thigh," the post reads.

"With a noise like a terrified piglet and the face of someone trying to pass a pine cone, he grudgingly surrendered and was led whimpering to a waiting police van." The person writing the post then has another crack at the man taken into custody. "He was taken to hospital and treated for a small scratch from Mako's gummy nip, all the while mewling like a two-year-old cat." "A band aid was administered and he was soon sitting forlornly in a cell at Cannington Police station. "The ute turned out to be stolen too and a search revealed an assortment of non-prescription drugs.

"The man was charged with many offences, refused bail and will be our guest until he appears in court." The post finishes with the alleged offender being called "the stupidest person on earth". "Incidentally, our criminal genius has matching bite marks on both legs now. "Another police dog gave him a friendly munch recently during another failed attempt to hide. "You'd think he'd have learned by now. Perhaps we, as police officers, are indeed fated to spend just a little bit of time with each of the stupidest people on earth.

"Who knows?" The police media spokesman said WA police had around 180 social media accounts to monitor. "Every day, hundreds of officers post to Police Twitter or Facebook accounts to large audiences," he said. "The officer will be reminded of the need to use a more professional tone in future. "All officers with Facebook access are trained in using social media as part of their duties and have access to guidelines.

"We continue to encourage our officers to use a more friendly, semi-formal style on social media."