Thugs who seriously assault police or emergency services workers will face a minimum of three months jail under laws due to be debated in State Parliament this week.
LNP Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson believes an overhaul of sentencing laws is desperately needed to provide a strong deterrent to criminals who attacked police and emergency services workers.
“Labor’s current laws are seriously letting down our police officers. In a recent court case on the Sunshine Coast an offender who seriously assaulted a police officer was only given nine months probation and ordered to pay $800 compensation. That didn’t even cover the cost of the police officer’s medical expenses.
“The violent assault resulted in the police officer undergoing knee surgery and enduring months of rehabilitation treatment.
“A year after the attack, she is still experiencing daily pain as a result of her injuries, while the offender who was found guilty of assaulting a police officer avoided going to jail.
“Police and emergency services workers have a tough enough job working to keep our streets safe.”
Ms Simpson said criminals need to be sent a clear message that violent assaults, spitting on and biting these officers, won’t be tolerated.
“The LNP introduced similar laws three years ago to provide for minimum sentences for offenders who assault police, but Labor used its numbers to defeat the move,” she said.
“ Queensland’s police officers deserve better.
“I call on all Members of Parliament to put politics aside this time and support the LNP’s laws to better protect our hard working police and emergency service workers.”
LNP Bill available at - http://www.jplangbroek.com/protecting-police-and-emergency-services/