Man accused of attacking Hamilton police officer

The incident resulted in one officer suffering a fractured cheek along with cuts and bruises. Photo / File

A man accused of attacking a Hamilton police officer which left him nursing multiple injuries is alleged to have jumped the station's front counter.

The Sunday night incident resulted in one officer suffering a fractured cheek along with cuts and bruises.

The 20-year-old man allegd to have been involved was remanded after appearing in the Hamilton District Court yesterday charged with injuring with intent, wounding with intent and burglary.

It's the second attack at a police station front counter in two months, after a volunteer was injured after an incident at the Counties Manukau Police Station.

Waikato police area commander Superintendent Bruce Bird said the injured officer was now recovering at home. He will return to work when he is ready, he said.

Mr Bird said the alleged attack began after the accused started acting erratically as his staff were trying to help him with a query.

He's then alleged to have jumped up onto the watchhouse counter and over a metre-high piece of wire before landing on the other side and becoming involved in a scuffle.

The station is now temporarily closed to the public from 7pm until 7am while a safety review of the area is carried out.

A report with a suggested new design is expected in about two weeks' time, he said.

As the alleged attacker jumped the front counter, the new design would incorporate more protection for staff while still allowing it be a comfortable environment for members of the public, Mr Bird said.

"Over the last few years that whole area has really developed around public counter safety, trying to get the balance between safety and also the customer service experience, so there's lots of different design features ... there will be things around how you make it harder to go over a counter."

As for why they chose the specific new closing times, Mr Bird said it was when the customer service ended and began their shift and became busier for front line staff who then manned the counter.

"At 7pm when they go off duty that starts to become a very problematic time for us because we're reliant on monitoring of CCTV cameras and if we get tied up with stuff that starts causing us a problem so we're going to cut it out there."

Instead, the public can pick up a phone outside the station for queries, but 111 should be used for all urgent queries, he said.

As for the attacks in police stations, Mr Bird said it was not acceptable.

"I have been in police for 39 years and I would say I have seen this a handful of times. But there is something there following the incident in Counties where the volunteer was assaulted and now this, it's something that we've got to make sure that we maintain the safety of all people and that includes our staff and people that might come to the police station."

Police Association Vice-President Craig Tickelpenny said security and safety of front counters was first raised with police in 2013 as they felt staff safety was being compromised in favour of a more open environment.

"The association is engaged with police in the current review of front counter areas, and immediate, practical steps to increase the safety of staff are welcome. With careful design, police can deliver practical operational safety and security for staff and visiting public, while still providing a welcoming environment in public areas," he said.