Eight youths charged over Tuakau police assault

Gary Hill says police are looking for other people in connection to the attack. Photo / Greg Bowker

Eight teenagers have been charged with assault after a brawl which left an intervening off-duty police officer with critical injuries.

The eight, aged between 14 and 16, were due to appear in the Pukekohe Youth Court this afternoon.

Papakura area commander Inspector Gary Hill said police are looking for others.

He said he would be sending more police officers to the small town
of Tuakau where the attack happened. Mr Hill said currently there are three constables stationed in the town.

John Connolly, 39, yesterday had a metal plate inserted into his forehead to help repair his fractured skull and wires put in his jaw which was broken in the attack on Friday.

The Papakura constable was trying to break up a fight between two teenage girls near his home on Elizabeth St in Tuakau when he was attacked.

Up to 30 people are thought to have been involved.

Police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey said yesterday that the number of people expected to be charged over the incident would be "double figures".

Tuakau College Board of Trustees chairman Andrew Culley said yesterday the fight involved some students.

The school had launched its own investigation and had a fair idea who was responsible. Students could face expulsion, Mr Culley said.

Asked whether the students understood the seriousness of the situation, Mr Culley said: "That'll come home as the week goes on, as the kids realise what they've done."

The school was not considering implementing security procedures following the incident, Mr Culley said.

Mayor of Franklin district and former South Auckland police officer
Mark Ball said he had not seen this level of violence against police during his 17 years in the force.

"I can recall when telling a police officer to f*** off saw you get locked up, now it happens all the time."