Tough laws see drop in assaults against police

Friday, 19 August 2016
 
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• Significant drop in assaults against police and public officers since 2009
• In 2009, mandatory sentencing came into force for assaulting public officers 

The Liberal National Government today revealed there had been a significant drop in assaults against police officers since it introduced tough mandatory sentencing laws in 2009 for people who assault police.

Deputy Premier and Police Minister Liza Harvey said there had been a 34 per cent reduction in police assaults in 2015 compared with 2009.

"In 2009, there was 1,227 incidents where our police officers were assaulted and this reduced to 800 police assaults last year," Ms Harvey said.

The Minister also revealed assaults against public officers had reduced by 26 per cent in 2015 (1,185 incidents) compared with 2009 (1,613 incidents).

Incidents of obstructing public officers had also reduced by 35 per cent in 2015 (1,758 incidents), compared with 2009 (2,718 incidents).

Attorney General Michael Mischin said the State Government passed laws in 2009 which now meant offenders faced a minimum jail term of 12 months for doing grievous bodily harm to police and other public officers; nine months for doing them bodily harm (in circumstances of aggravation); and six months for assault causing bodily harm.

"The legislation sends a message to the community that violent attacks against our police and other public officers will no longer be tolerated in Western Australia, and the continuing reduction in assaults indicates it has been successful," Mr Mischin said.

"Despite the opposition and scaremongering from the Labor Party during the debate, the mandatory sentencing legislation has proven to be an effective deterrent against violence."

Ms Harvey said the reductions were encouraging, however the community needed to be reminded of the tough laws to help further drive down assaults against police and public officers.

"We have always been the Government that protects our police and the small section of the community who attack our officers need to know they will be locked up," she said.

Fact File

• To date, in 2016 there have been 421 assaults against police; 634 assaults against public officers; and 883 incidents of obstructing a public officer
• The Government introduced mandatory jail for assaults against police, ambulance officers, transit guards, court security officers, prison officers and youth custodial officers