WA Police rally outside Parliament House today

Joseph Sapienza
March 17, 2009 - 11:14AM

Police will converge on Parliament House today to support the passage of the
mandatory sentencing legislation that will protect police officers against
violence.

Under the proposed bill, people who cause bodily harm to police officers
will receive an automatic jail term.

Other public officers also covered by the legislation are ambulance staff,
security guards on public transport and prison officers, but not nurses.

Premier Colin Barnett and Attorney-General Christian Porter said the
measures sought to protect those who work in dangerous and violent
situations.

This afternoon at 3pm, police officers and their supporters will be at
Parliament House to show their support for the new mandatory
sentencing legislation - which will be debated in the Lower House
today.

WA Police Union president Mike Dean said violence against police
officers in WA has reached dangerous levels.

He said officers were dealing with violence almost every hour.

Independent MP John Bowler said he is disgusted by recent attacks on
police officers, and fully supports mandatory jail terms for those who
assault police.

However, he wants to see protection extended to all public officers.

Police say they are fed up with the increasing violence against WA officers.

The rally comes almost a week after three men walked free from assault
charges stemming from a brawl which left Constable Matthew Butcher
seriously injured.

However, the Law Society of WA strongly opposes the mandatory
sentencing bill "because factual circumstances are many and varied and
the courts need discretion in sentencing to properly take into account all
factors."

Society president Dudley Stowe said these new laws will not result in a
large reduction in assaults on police officers.

"Mandatory sentencing will not prevent assaults on police," he said.

"For decades, murder carried a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment
in Western Australia, yet murders are continued to be committed.

"We acknowledge the need to protect our police officers and emergency
workers and ensure their safety whilst serving the community - however
in this instance, the courts should retain their existing discretion in
determining sentences on criminal charges."

He called on all sides of politics to not give in to "knee-jerk" legislation
following recent high-profile cases involving assaults on police officers.