Police attacks show need for harsher penalties - Collins

Police Minister Judith Collins. Photo / Daily Post

Police Minister Judith Collins says the violence which left four Dunedin police officers in hospital over the weekend shows why harsher sentences are needed for people who attack police.

In the first incident a 21-year-old man allegedly set upon a 40-year-old police officer from behind after the car he was a passenger in was pulled over just before midnight on Saturday.

"This is particularly nasty as he was attacked from behind, and the assault continued whilst he was on the ground," Acting Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said.

Police Constable Greg Park was left concussed and with bleeding to the face and was discharged from hospital on Saturday morning.

A 21-year-old man appeared in Dunedin District Court yesterday charged with injuring with intent to injure and was remanded in custody to today.

The weekend's second attack happened just before midnight on Sunday, as three officers were injured when they went to see if a 22 year-old man was complying with curfew and alcohol restrictions.

Dunedin and Clutha police area commander Dave Campbell said the officers believed he had been drinking, and were going to arrest him when he attacked them.

A woman police officer was punched up to 30 times around the head, receiving a broken hand, a suspected fractured nose and bruising and abrasions to the face.

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

Jaimie Cooper-Siggleko, aged 22 and a 15-year-old boy appeared in the Dunedin Youth Court yesterday on a joint charge of aggravated assault and resisting police.

Cooper-Siggleko was remanded in custody without plea to February 14.

The teenager was remanded in the custody of Child, Youth and Family to tomorrow.

A woman involved in the same incident is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court on Friday charged with obstruction.

Ms Collins said she had spoken to all four officers and said the violence showed police "put their lives on the line every day they go to work".

She said there were some people who thought they could attack police, which was why the Government was supporting legislation which would give harsher penalties to those who assaulted police and corrections officers.

The Sentencing Aggravated Factors Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament by Justice Minister Simon Power last October.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, said the whole community needed to step up and take responsibility for the attacks which were intolerable.

- NZPA