Assaults on QLD police: New data reveals how many occur in your suburb

An incredible number of police officers have been assaulted while in the line of duty in just the past 12 months, with new statistics uncovering the shocking hot spots across Brisbane, including one up-and-coming northside suburb. See our interactive report inside.

They are the thin blue line who put themselves in the firing line to protect our community — with new data suggesting a shocking number of police officers have been assaulted in the past twelve months.

Newly released figures reveal that in the past 12 months to July 2020, almost 600 people have been charged with 730 assault offences against Queensland Police officers in Brisbane alone.

Quest has uncovered the city’s leading police assault hot spots, including Brisbane City which recorded 38 serious assaults, followed by the city’s night-life epicentre Fortitude Valley which had 37, Inala which recorded 25 and Stafford 24.

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The police divisions of Inala, Capalaba, Stafford, Petrie, Hendra and Boondall all recorded more than 100 charges of serious assault, assault and obstruction of police officers in the same time frame.

Across Brisbane more than 2000 people were charged in a year for hindering or assaulting police with assaults ranging from biting and spitting to more extreme cases with lifelong consequences.

Senior Constable Aaron Izzard spent 10 days on life support, lost 28kg and had to learn to walk and talk again after he was run down in a stolen car in Carseldine in 2018.

Court

The driver, Craig Aland Townshend, was ordered to serve 80 per cent of his 10-year jail term behind bars after pleading guilty to committing a malicious act that caused grievous bodily harm.

Another officer Kieran Smyth’s life changed in a split second when he was run over as he tried to deploy stingers to stop a stolen Audi on a wild drug-fuelled drug chase.

Michael John Purcell, 28, was sentenced to nine years’ jail last week for running over Constable Smyth after pleading guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle with aggravation, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, malicious act with intent, failing to stop and driving unlicensed.

An officer rushed to help Constable Smyth after he was struck. Picture: Queensland Police

Queensland’s Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath is currently reviewing whether courts are giving harsh enough sentenced for assaults on frontline officers after a report was prepared by the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council.

In Queensland, serious assault carries a 7-year maximum penalty, which increases to 14 years if the victim is a police officer or public officer.

A public officer includes police, emergency services workers, corrective services workers, teachers and health workers.

Unlike Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, Queensland does not have mandatory minimum penalties for assaults on public officers.

Constable Peter Boyle was hit in the head by a brick after responding to calls about an out-of-control party in Acacia Ridge.

Council chair John Robertson said the review would also consider whether the definition of public officer in section 340 of the Criminal Code should be expanded to recognise other frontline workers including bus and train drivers.

“Some occupational groups – such as police and corrective services officers – are trained and prepared to manage conflict and aggression, while others such as health care workers, paramedics, teachers, public transport workers – are not equipped or are less equipped, nor should they expect to meet violence in their role,” Mr Robertson said.

“Regardless of the work or the position of the officer, violence should never be accepted as ‘part of the job’, even for those who are trained to respond.”

The council will release its recommendations to the public in early October.