Jail for assault of cops, ambos

THE LNP has pledged to jail thugs for a minimum of seven days who assault emergency services personnel.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls will announce the “Protect those who protect us” plan at the Queensland Police Union’s Conference in Brisbane today.

Mr Nicholls said thugs who assaulted police or paramedics were too often let off without serious consequences.

“It’s pretty much regarded as a bit of a revolving door. We don’t just want a slap on the wrist,” he said.

“( Officers) don’t deserve to be spat upon, they don’t deserved to be threatened.”

Mr Nicholls said stronger penalties would act as a deterrent to violent offenders.

He said assaults on Queensland Ambulance Service officers had increased by 30 per cent in the 18 months since March 2015.

“In the first four months of this year, 176 ambulance officers have been assaulted across Queensland alone,” Mr Nicholls said.

“People are losing respect for the ( service) that the police and paramedics provide.

“We can’t have that. We can’t have them arriving on scenes and being assaulted.

“Our hardworking emergency services workers have a tough enough job protecting the community, they don’t need the added worry of being physically attacked on the job and treated punching bag.”

Mr Nicholls said the LNP would also create a new offence under the Ambulance Service Act 1991 of assaulting or obstructing a paramedic or other authorised officer, similar to the existing offence applicable to assaults against police officers.

At present, there is no offence for people who blatantly impede or otherwise get in the way of paramedics performing their duties.

Mr Nicholls said he believed the proposed legislative changes would receive widespread support.

“I don’t think anyone in their right mind could sensibly object to this,” he said.

“I believe this will be something that paramedics will welcome, police and firies will welcome and the community will welcome.”

Mr Nicholls said other Australian states had already introduced minimum jail terms for serious assaults on emergency services workers and it was time for Queensland to follow suit.

In Victoria the minimum is six months, in Western Australia it is three months and in Tasmania it is a minimum sixmonth penalty.

“We’re very keen to introduce this for our hardworking Queensland police and ambulance officers,” he said.

“This is about sending a strong and clear message to the community – if you assault our frontline emergency services workers, you will be jailed.”

The maximum penalty for serious assault of a police or public officer is 14 years in jail. like a