Two attacks on Dunedin police in 24 hours

File photo / NZ Herald

Two separate attacks on four Dunedin police officers over the weekend show how dangerous and unpredictable an officer's job can be, the area's police commander Dave Campbell says.

Shortly before midnight yesterday, two female officers were attacked at a property in suburban St Kilda when they went to see if a 22 year-old man was complying with curfew and alcohol restrictions.

"They (the officers) believed he had been drinking, it got to the stage where one of the officers was going to arrest him, he then attacked her," Mr Campbell said.

"He punched her, we believe up to 30 times around the head, and as a result of that she's got a broken hand, a suspected fractured nose and bruising and abrasions to the face."

The officer remained in hospital and it was not yet known whether she would be discharged today.

The second female officer and another male officer who responded to calls for help were both bitten by a dog.

Both were treated and discharged from hospital last night.

Mr Campbell said three people - the man, a 22-year-old woman who was the man's partner and a 15-year-old boy - had been arrested.

The 22-year-old man was due to appear in the Dunedin Court today on charges of breaching of bail, resisting arrest and aggravated injury, while the 15-year-old boy was to appear in the Youth Court on a charge of aggravated injury.

The man's 22-year-old partner was likely to appear later in the week on a charge of obstruction.

Police had also seized the dog.

The incident was the second attack on police in 24 hours.

A 21-year-old man is due to appear in Dunedin District Court today after giving himself up last night following what police described as a "cowardly" attack on another Dunedin police officer on Saturday night.

The man allegedly attacked the 40-year-old officer after the car he was passenger in was pulled over on just before midnight on Saturday.

During the vehicle stop, the 21-year-old male allegedly approached the officer from behind and punched him once in the back of the head while he was talking to the female driver.

"The police officer was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground," Acting Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said.

The attacker continued to strike the officer while he was on the ground but ran off after one of the other male passengers intervened.

Police said it was a cowardly and violent attack on an officer working alone and completing a routine vehicle stop.

"This is particularly nasty as he was attacked from behind, and the assault continued whilst he was on the ground.

"The other passengers did not know why he reacted like that as they all commented on the relaxed mood of the police officer."

The officer, who suffered concussion, bleeding to the face and bruising, was discharged from Dunedin Hospital yesterday morning.

Mr Campbell said both attacks showed the dangerous and unpredictable nature of police work.

"It certainly shows that the job of a police officer is inherently dangerous, most occasions you can read the signs but sometimes these attacks come out of the blue," he said.

"Most people can be reasoned with but of course there are situations that can be unpredictable."

The attacks were unusually serious, Mr Campbell said.

"Often people resist arrest but they only get involved in wrestling matches as apposed to straight out punches and blows being thrown.

"Fortunately that is the exception rather than the rule."

- NZPA