Murders not first deadly attacks on public servants
Threats, attacks on frontline staff are a known hazard at government agencies.
The fatal shooting of two Work and Income staff members in Ashburton was the first time public servants had been killed at work since the murder of ACC worker Janet Pike in Auckland 15 years ago. However, staff at government agencies have faced several threats and attacks since.
March 2013:
EQC staff at a Christ- church office were sent home after an angry homeowner threatened staff. Security guards were brought in and the North New Brighton hub was closed for the rest of the day.
February 2012: A social worker was punched at a Palmerston North Child, Youth and Family (CYF) office.
December 2012: Southland man Sean Muir threatened fill his car with urea bombs and diesel and drive it into the Invercargill ACC offices.
July 2011: North Shore beneficiary Alan Thomas was sentenced to 10 months’ home detention after planning to explode a van full explosives and nails outside an ACC branch office.
November 2011: At the temporary CYF’s offices in Papanui, Thamir Abdulridha El Mehdi smashed a glass door and window, pushed a woman causing her to fall and shook another violently, gripping her neck before throwing her into the furniture.
October 2006: A New Brighton Work and Income security officer was punched unconscious by client Ivan Grey. Grey was discussing payment when he became agitated and punch the security officer when he was approached.
February 2005: A Work and Income receptionist was stabbed by a 32-year-old Hamilton woman.
January 2001: A client drove a car through the front window of the Work and Income Flaxmere office, near Hastings, extensively damaging the building and sending staff scurrying for safety.
November 1999: A man wielding a wooden club at the Orewa Work and Income office smashed six windows, a computer and a sign. No staff were hurt.
June 1999: ACC worker Janet Pike, 34, was stabbed to death at the Henderson office in West Auckland by Johnny Manu, who was receiving treatment for schizophrenia.
He claimed he was owed $350. The following day, a chair was thrown through a window at the Greymouth ACC office. Parts of central Ashurton were closed off by police while the gunman who shot killed two people at the Work and Income office was chased.