Mandatory sentences for people who assault police?

[sam76]

mandatory sentences for people who assault police

Do you support it?

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26283850-421,00.html

 

[Smurf1976]

I'd rather remove the word "police" from that. Mandatory sentences for people who assault. That would fix a lot of the problems we have on the streets today.

 

[Putty7]

Agree with you there Smurf, for every action there is a reaction, not the case in most assaults, more a slap on the wrist, don't be naughty again. If there were consequences involved more idiots might think twice.

 

[jono1887]

Exactly.. how is assaulting a police man any different from a random person of the street getting assaulted. If anything, the latter is probably worse.. policemen/women know what they are getting into with their jobs and they put themselves in that position to protect others.

 

[starwars_guy456]

Ehhh, sounds a bit like overkill to me.

As far as I know, assault can include words or actions which have the effect of causing the victim to apprehend danger. Even a gentle push could be classified as assault, I think...

My answer is thus "no". Crazy to hand out a fine/conviction for something so trivial. Last thing we need is to expose even more people to the criminal element in our prisons. We need to look at other ways to address this problem.

-Edwin

 

[Bafana]

Too much threat of power to an already over powered establishment. Don't agree with this at all.

 

[namrog]

How about mandatory sentences for police who assault people ?

 

[Mr J]

Getting the views of the wife and police association is about as informative as someone telling me that the sky is blue.

 

[MrBurns]

The police need more support than they get now.

They should have tasers.
They should have the latest weapons.
They should have modern cars not those clapped out vans they use now.
They should have the full support of the judiciary, they catrch them and the courts let them go again, not on.
Anyone who assaults or injures a police officer should go in the slammer.
They should also have better training, they shouldn't call the public "mate" they should regain the level of respect they had some years ago and get rid of those stupid baseball caps.

 

[MrBurns]

How about mandatory sentences for police who assault people ?

They only slap around the low lifes who deserve it.

 

[MrBurns]

Exactly.. how is assaulting a police man any different from a random person of the street getting assaulted. If anything, the latter is probably worse.. policemen/women know what they are getting into with their jobs and they put themselves in that position to protect others.

If you attack authority you should be shown that it's not on.

If you attack police you attack the one thing that keeps the public safe, it's more serious than a general assault, like umpires in sport.

 

[Putty7]

I agree in theory Mr Burns, but I have socialised with a few coppers off work, being from a small country town originally it was the done thing and most were good blokes, that said there were some that came through who used to do some pretty low acts while they were on duty and didn't deserve any respect at all. When they wear the uniform if they deserve respect they should be able to show the uniform and their station the respect it deserves, this unfortunately isn't always the case. Most are very good and it would be a demanding job and they deserve protection, but so do medicos, firemen etc who also put themselves at risk and are in the line of fire so to speak. I think our whole law system is in need of an overhaul with people who exhibit some common sense and who are in touch with todays society to be the ones to do the work.

 

[Happy]

I'd rather remove the word "police" from that. Mandatory sentences for people who assault. That would fix a lot of the problems we have on the streets today.

I totally agree with this statement.

 

[Agentm]

it could help a little, maybe in terms of community outrage.. but i have an issue with making any sentencing mandatory


my view is that with the sentencing being mandatory that a judge cannot give aid or support to someone who really needs it.. there are many instances where a sentence could be more detrimental to an individual, particularly if the mandatory sentencing wipes out the many many sentencing options a judge may have, interventionist options like anger management courses, or rehab or community based orders, or doing assessments mental health services or medication or some other form of social support could be far more beneficial,,

its a tough one to put forward. it has consequences on how well sentencing can be beneficial imho

 

[MrBurns]

They wouldn't need to be mandatory if judges displayed common sense.

 

[Agentm]

i know a situation where a guy who was seriously violent, permanently in trouble and always hitting police or getting in fights wherever. he found out very much later in life through medical intervention that his rage was associated with a massive abnormality in his testosterone levels.. he was like many times the norm,,

in turn his sentencing changed after that revelation came about, the judge was able to make community based orders and also get the guy medically assessed and treated.

life long psychological anger was not removed overnight from his persona, but the high trigger was which allowed for better sentencing and better management of the circumstances. a judge without that leverage would have had not option with mandatory sentencing.. i doubt if jail time would have aided the rehab..

just an example of where it could go wrong..

 

[Dreadweave]

Why mandatory for assaults against police? why not mandatory for people who assault share traders? or construction workers? perhaps ther should be mandatory sentences for men who assault women, or women who assault men?


Im sick of hearing about men getting arrested for assaulting a woman, then being let off cause thers no evidence, but a police officer can bash anyone then charge THEM with assault because they try and get away.

 

[Happy]

....
just an example of where it could go wrong..

This is what judges do, all they do is to find circumstances that could reduce the responsibility of offender.

It is not good to have testosterone packed person to assault everybody in the community.

 

[MrBurns]

Why mandatory for assaults against police? why not mandatory for people who assault share traders? or construction workers? perhaps ther should be mandatory sentences for men who assault women, or women who assault men?
Im sick of hearing about men getting arrested for assaulting a woman, then being let off cause thers no evidence, but a police officer can bash anyone then charge THEM with assault because they try and get away.

For a start share traders need to be assaulted regularly, police officers should be able to assault anyone they like, and if they were it would only be the terminal dickheads who receive it not nice people.

Have a look at Highway Patrol on TV some time see what drives cars on our roads, I wouldnt be asking them for their driving licence i'd be asking them for proof they are human otherwise it's back to the zoo.

 

[Gamblor]

Nothing is ever black or white which is why mandatory sentences are a bad idea.