More charges laid against cop bashing accused

File photo / NZ Herald

The two men arrested for attacking a police officer on the East Coast are facing more serious charges of threatening to kill him after appearing in Gisborne District Court today.

The officer was allegedly set upon by the two men after stopping them as suspects in a series of burglaries in Mahia, south of Gisborne, on Boxing Day.

Initially the 24-year-old and 26-year-old were charged with a number of offences relating to the attack as well as theft, escaping police custody and carrying a weapon.

After reappearing in court today the pair faced further charges including threats to police, other people and houses, a Gisborne police prosecutions spokeswoman told NZPA.

The 24-year-old was facing a total of 20 charges and the 26-year-old was facing six charges.

They have been remanded in custody until January 10.

The officer had been in the force for just two years. Police Minister Judith Collins, who spoke with him yesterday, said he was recovering at home, but was eager to return to work.

Police said the officer's injuries would have been much worse but for two off-duty police officers and members of the public coming to his aid.

The constable was the fourth victim of an attack on police officers this month.

On December 11, Senior Constable Bruce Mellor of Waiouru was attacked from behind with a machete and left for dead on the side of the road after he pulled over a stolen car.

As a result of that attack, Ms Collins spoke with Police Commissioner Howard Broad about officers working in pairs in an attempt to curb violence against the police.

But today Ms Collins told Radio New Zealand Mr Broad told her that would not be possible in small one- or two-man stations.

A bill had now been tabled in Parliament "to make sure that all attacks on police officers and Corrections officers as they are going about their duty are treated as aggravated factors in sentencing", she said.

She was also considering a report by Mr Broad about better access by police to firearms.

"We're likely to see more firearms being held in locked boxes in the front of the cars rather than the back of the cars."

Police procedures may also be changed to make it easier for police to be able to carry firearms into an incident, Ms Collins said.

"I'm sorry to say that over the years respect for the police and the rule of law has diminished amongst the criminal element, and we're seeing the affects of that."

Also on Boxing Day, a Hamilton policeman was attacked by two teenagers armed with a machete and a knife when he went to a house at Pukete, north of Hamilton, after reports of people fighting with weapons.

Two boys, aged 14 and 16, appeared in Hamilton Youth Court yesterday accused of attempted murder and were remanded to a "secure house" in Rotorua until their next appearance at the end of the month.

In a third Boxing Day attack, a police officer was set on by two teenage boys as he tried to arrest another teenager during a fight at Matauri Bay, 120km north east of Whangarei.

One teen has been charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and the other with assault with intent to injure and aggravated assault.

- NZPA