Parole axed for police assaults
The State Government will legislate to ensure mandatory minimum jail terms for assaulting public officers are served behind bars and not on parole.
But police are disappointed laws for speedier tests for blood-borne diseases will wait until next year.
Starting the final week of Legislative Assembly sittings for the year, Attorney-General Michael Mischin said yesterday legislation would be introduced today to beef up laws imposing mandatory terms for assaulting public officers and evading police.
The Sentencing Legislation Amendment Bill comes in response to Sarah Blanchette, 21, being paroled 4½ months into a nine-month jail term for assaulting a police officer, an offence that carries a minimum penalty of six months jail.
The Bill requires that minimum terms of six months for assault causing bodily harm, nine for aggravated assault causing bodily harm, 12 for assault causing grievous bodily harm and 12 for dangerous driving causing death or injury during police pursuits must be served before parole.
Mr Mischin denied the move reflected that the original mandatory sentencing package was flawed, saying its introduction in 2009 was seen as "radical" and the Government was taking an "incremental" approach.
Shadow attorney-general John Quigley said only 43 per cent of people charged with injuring a public officer went to jail because in most cases the authorities dropped the charges or reduced them.
WA Police Union president George Tilbury said police were letting more cases go to court for adjudication rather than "stopping them administratively".
He welcomed the Bill but said police were keener for laws forcing people they suspected of biting or spitting on them to have blood tests.
Police Minister Liza Harvey had hoped to introduce the laws this year but said they were complex and would be a priority early next year.
