Officers in the firing line Cops face assaults

THE North’s police are daily being spat on, kicked and punched.

Latest police statistics reveal officers in the Northern Region, from Townsville to Mount Isa and Cairns, have been assaulted 474 times between last July and April 30 this year.

Townsville police have been assaulted 138 times, while police in Mount Isa have been assaulted 134 times. Police in the far north, including Cairns, have been assaulted 202 times.

In the 2015- 16 financial year, there were 585 assaults against police in the Northern police region.

Townsville Acting Superintendent Roger Whyte said he was regularly briefed on assaults on police officers.

“There’s not one Monday when I come to work that I’m not briefed on one of my officers being assaulted,” he said. “Regardless of whether one of my police officers cops a slap in the face, or a kick in the groin or a smack on the head, it is totally, utterly, unacceptable.”

Acting Supt Whyte said police assaults were not part of the job.

“Being the frontline, we’re called to service at a moment’s notice to deal with any type of situation and, at times, we are confronted by some very violent fools,” he said.

“There is emotional and physical hurt on the police officer and that can never be considered tolerable.”

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said assaults on police were “quite frankly outrageous”.

“In no other occupation would being assaulted at a rate greater than one a day be accepted,” he said.

Mr Leavers called on minimum custodial sentencing for offenders.

“We have tried everything else and this figure still climbs so let’s ensure offenders receive time in jail if they assault police,” he said. “More officers on the beat also plays a large role in reducing assaults on police.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan said no assault on “our hardworking” frontline men and women was acceptable.

“A charge of serious assault against our police carries a penalty of seven years and up to 14 years if it includes aggravating circumstances such as biting, spitting, bodily harm, or pretending to be armed,” he said. “I have no sympathy for anyone who assaults a police officer.”