Premier Steven Miles announces ramming an emergency vehicle to be an offence
Ramming emergency services vehicles will be outlawed after two Queensland police officers were hospitalised when they were hit by an allegedly stolen vehicle this month.
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Ramming emergency services vehicles will be outlawed after two police officers were hospitalised when they were hit by an allegedly stolen vehicle earlier this month.
A new law will be introduced to parliament next week as part of the Queensland Government’s Community Safety Plan, making the ramming of emergency services vehicles its own criminal offence, Premier Steven Miles announced with the Police Minister and Police Commissioner in tow in Rockhampton on Friday on a brief fly-in, fly-out visit.
The proposed legislation would see any person who uses a motor vehicle to cause damage to police or ambulance vehicles or fire appliances face an additional charge for that action on top of other relevant associated offences such as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The new offence will carry a penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment.
In addition, a person who causes wilful damage to an emergency vehicle will now face up to seven years imprisonment.
Over recent months there have been a significant number of ramming incidents targeting police vehicles, including an incident in Rockyview on April 13 where an allegedly stolen grey LandCruiser ute travelling on the wrong side of the road crashed into an unmarked police vehicle.
Two police officers sustained injuries from the crash and were transported to hospital.
“Disgracefully, Queensland’s hardworking police have been victim to about 60 ramming incidents this year,” Mr Miles said.
“These are our first responders, our lifesavers, and they have subject to violent attacks in the line of duty.
“They don’t deserve to be violently targeted like that.
“We are aware of some young people stealing vehicles and ramming them into police cars and ambulances for the sole purpose of boasting about that on social media and one-upping their friends.”
Mr Miles said the new offence was designed to give police more tools to arrest offenders and make sure there are consequences for their “very dangerous” actions.
Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said there had been 600 instances between 2021 and 2023 where people had deliberately rammed police vehicles.
“There is a real risk to my staff,” he said.
“To target emergency services by ramming is deplorable behaviour that not only risks the lives of our frontline but innocent members of the public as well.
“We see this behaviour all too often, and while our officers are tactically trained to respond, a motor vehicle can cause serious harm to anyone in its path.
“Queensland Police Service welcomes the proposed new law holding reckless drivers to account.”
NEW POLICE ANNOUNCED FOR CENTRAL QUEENSLAND
Also announced was 900 extra police, including 57 new police positions to the Central Queensland region over three years as part of the Queensland Government’s Community Safety Plan.
Mr Miles said the 57 new police positions were also in addition to the 26 he announced in Rockhampton in March.
“We’re giving our frontline the resources they need to keep our communities safe, and ensure Queenslanders feel safe,” he said.
“The police will be able to identify the best way to allocate those extra officers.
“We want to see more police in the Rockhampton community preventing crime, intervening early, detaining offenders where that is necessary.”
Commissioner Gollschewski said police welcomed the government’s announcement of additional police personnel.
“These additional resources that we will see come into the central region will make a difference to our frontline policing,” he said.
Keppel MP Brittany Lauga said she was excited to have more police in the community.
“When there is crime we want to make sure we have the police on the road to be able to keep our community safe,” she said.
“I was talking to the officer in charge of the Yeppoon station recently, we are going from 12 full -ime police at the Yeppoon station to 19.
“That’s a game0-changer for the Capricorn Coast.
“I am looking forward to welcoming those officers to the Capricorn Coast.”
Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke said the new police would make a real difference in the community.
“We already have so many new recruits in the pipeline and I’m excited for some of them to call Rocky home,” he said.
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