Police attacks focus

High- ranking officer says there’ll be ‘ no tolerance’ of assaults

A POLICE officer was repeatedly punched in the face and another officer spat on in two separate incidents in Townsville during the weekend.

The attacks bring the number of Townsville police officers assaulted in the past two weeks to eight.

About 2am on Saturday at Flinders St, a police officer tried to arrest a 22- year- old Yeppoon man who pushed him to the ground, fell on top of him and punched him repeatedly in the face.

Later that morning a man spat on a female officer at Townsville Watch House with the saliva landing on her uniform.

Northern Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor likened the alleged culprits to “wild animals” but said only a small minority of people were causing trouble for police.

“People have to take responsibility for their actions,” he said. “The role of the police is to go out and keep the community safe.

“People who assault police officers need to take a hard look at how they fit into society.

“If they carry on like a twoyear- old, they are not mature enough to go out and drink.”

In the last fortnight there were six other reported assaults on police in Townsville, with three officers spat on, one pushed to the ground and another punched and kicked. Both police officers in the latest spate of assaults escaped without injury.

Police had to use capsicum spray to subdue the man during the first assault.

He was charged with two counts of serious assault on police and one count of failing to leave a licensed premise.

A 34- year- old Kirwan man allegedly responsible for spitting on the officer has been charged with serious assault on police and he was also facing public nuisance charges.

District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Ian Wilkie said the officer was lucky to escape the incident, with no saliva landing on her face or mouth.

“The spit landed on the officer’s uniform and she did not require disease testing; however, any form of spitting is a disgusting act,” he said.

Mr Taylor said some people still weren’t getting the message that assaults on police won’t be tolerated.

Both men will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court later this month.