Jail term call for cop bashers

A six-month mandatory prison term for anyone who assaults a police officer could help reduce the number of officers attacked.

That's the view of Police Association vice-president Chris Cahill, after new figures revealed the number of cops assaulted on duty has risen sharply in the past three years.

Figures released under the Official Information Act show almost 2500 officers were assaulted in the year to June 30, up from 2248 in the year to June 30, 2007.

Cahill said the rise was because more people were willing to "have a go" at cops.

"We're not seeing respect for them, the idea that people shouldn't attack them has gone out the window. It's a reflection of a more violent society in general, police are seen as fair game."

Cahill said mandatory jail time for anyone who assaults an officer - a new law in Western Australia - could solve the issue.

The WA legislation passed last month prescribed automatic jail terms for assaults against police, paramedics, prison guards and public transport guards.

For offences causing bodily harm the minimum sentence is six months, while offences involving grievous bodily harm carry a sentence of at least one year. "Basically, the courts there are saying it isn't okay to assault police," Cahill said.

But an Auckland policeman who was bitten by a woman last year said automatic jail time would not necessarily help.

"Tasers will definitely make it easier to prevent attacks but I don't think jail time will help really," he said. "Most people who do it are either high or drunk and there is no real intention behind it. Most of them just get carried away but for the ones who still mean it when they are sober, maybe."

Cahill agreed Tasers would also go a long way to reducing assaults.

Police Minister Judith Collins believed greater availability of methamphetamine and alcohol may be factors in more assaults.

She has asked police to advise her on laws overseas.

ASSAULTS ON THE POLICE

Financial years, ending June 30:
2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009
Northland: 127, 139, 119
Waitemata: 226, 238, 268
Auckland: 284, 295, 291
Counties/Manukau: 209, 253, 226
Waikato: 152, 147, 195
Bay Of Plenty: 153, 180, 215
Eastern: 145, 126, 155
Central: 188, 164, 198
Wellington: 315, 315, 281
Tasman: 89, 113, 86
Canterbury: 211, 237, 265
Southern: 149, 177, 182
New Zealand: 2248, 2384, 2481

anna.leask@hos.co.nz