Published Sunday, 29 July, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
ONE PERSON JAILED EVERY THREE DAYS FOR ASSAULTING POLICE
Queensland courts are imposing jail sentences every three days on offenders who seriously assault police officers, Minister for Police Judy Spence and Attorney General Kerry Shine said today.
“Last year 123 people whose most serious offence was seriously assaulting a police officer were sent to prison,” Ms Spence said.
“The sentences imposed ranged from a period of less than six months up to more than three years.”
Ms Spence said she expects the length of jail sentences handed to offenders to increase as judges start to utilise laws which make spitting, biting or throwing bodily fluids at a police officer a serious assault.
“Under laws the government introduced last year these offences now carry a maximum 7 year sentence and I believe judges will start imposing longer jail terms on offenders who seriously assault police.”
Mr Shine said in addition to those who went to prison another 72 offenders received wholly suspended jail sentences and 15 were placed on intensive correction orders.
“These figures show the courts are taking assaults on police in Queensland very seriously and will impose a jail term if required."
Ms Spence said people are getting the message that seriously assaulting a police officer could result in a prison sentence.
“In 2005/06 there were 181 fewer assaults on police in Queensland than the previous year and figures from 1 July last year until 31 March this year indicate that number will fall again.”
“Police are also currently trialling a number of devices such as tasers and spit nets which they believe will help further reduce assaults against officers.
“In fact since the trial of tasers started on 1 July there have been a number of incidents where the deployment of a taser or a warning a taser would be used has prevented an assault on police.”
Ms Spence said calls for mandatory prison sentences for assaults on police would not result in a further reduction in the number of attacks.
“In most cases, assaults on police officers happen in the heat of the moment,” Ms Spence said
“Offenders do not necessarily consider the consequences when they act in this abhorrent manner.
“It is up to the courts to determine the circumstances and the penalties for each individual case.
“The courts are doing their job by jailing those people who have seriously assaulted police,” Ms Spence said.
In addition to the jail terms imposed 191 other offenders received either community service orders, probation orders, a fine or a good behaviour order for assaulting police.
Media Contact: Ms Spence’s Office Troy Davies 0439 673 287
Mr Shine’s Office Kirby Anderson 0418 197 350
“Last year 123 people whose most serious offence was seriously assaulting a police officer were sent to prison,” Ms Spence said.
“The sentences imposed ranged from a period of less than six months up to more than three years.”
Ms Spence said she expects the length of jail sentences handed to offenders to increase as judges start to utilise laws which make spitting, biting or throwing bodily fluids at a police officer a serious assault.
“Under laws the government introduced last year these offences now carry a maximum 7 year sentence and I believe judges will start imposing longer jail terms on offenders who seriously assault police.”
Mr Shine said in addition to those who went to prison another 72 offenders received wholly suspended jail sentences and 15 were placed on intensive correction orders.
“These figures show the courts are taking assaults on police in Queensland very seriously and will impose a jail term if required."
Ms Spence said people are getting the message that seriously assaulting a police officer could result in a prison sentence.
“In 2005/06 there were 181 fewer assaults on police in Queensland than the previous year and figures from 1 July last year until 31 March this year indicate that number will fall again.”
“Police are also currently trialling a number of devices such as tasers and spit nets which they believe will help further reduce assaults against officers.
“In fact since the trial of tasers started on 1 July there have been a number of incidents where the deployment of a taser or a warning a taser would be used has prevented an assault on police.”
Ms Spence said calls for mandatory prison sentences for assaults on police would not result in a further reduction in the number of attacks.
“In most cases, assaults on police officers happen in the heat of the moment,” Ms Spence said
“Offenders do not necessarily consider the consequences when they act in this abhorrent manner.
“It is up to the courts to determine the circumstances and the penalties for each individual case.
“The courts are doing their job by jailing those people who have seriously assaulted police,” Ms Spence said.
In addition to the jail terms imposed 191 other offenders received either community service orders, probation orders, a fine or a good behaviour order for assaulting police.
Media Contact: Ms Spence’s Office Troy Davies 0439 673 287
Mr Shine’s Office Kirby Anderson 0418 197 350