Tweed police victims of assault every week by drunk and drug-affected thugs

DRUG and alcohol-fuelled thugs are belting nearly one police officer a week on the Tweed.

Tweed Byron LAC Superintendent Wayne Starling said the high number of assaults is concerning.

DRUG and alcohol-fuelled thugs are belting nearly one police officer a week on the Tweed.

Fifty officers were assaulted in the last financial year, most of them from grubs high on methamphetamine.

“I have no hesitation in saying drugs are playing a major part in these assaults against police,” said Tweed Byron LAC Superintendent Wayne Starling.

“From what I have seen it’s most definitely increasing,” he said.

Figures obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin also shows that of the assaults, 32 were alcohol related.

Tweed Heads had the highest number of incidences at 19. Byron Bay had 16, followed by Murwillumbah (8), Kingscliff (4) and Brunswick Heads (3).

Supt Starling said the situation was “incredibly sad”.

“The police are there to protect our community and we don’t accept this as being part of the job.”

Tweed Police Superintendent Wayne Starling at Tweed Police Station.

“It’s essential that our police go home safe and well to their family and as a result we need to work with the community to reduce these numbers.”

Aside from the physical scars, Supt Starling said the assaults were leaving mental strain on officers.

“The average age of a police officer in the Tweed Byron is 40 years of age and they become worn down over the years from fighting off offenders.

“As a result we have the cumulative effect where the bodies of police get worn down over the years resulting in some police going down the medical discharge process which can drag on for extensive periods of time.”

Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said he accompanied local police officers on a night shift every few months and was well aware of the violence they face.

Many of those attacking police on the Tweed are affected byice.

“It’s just unacceptable — our local police shouldn’t have to cop this,” he said.

“People need to be more accountable for their actions. I don’t care if you were on ice or not, you did the wrong thing and you’ve got to pay the penalty.”

While the penalty sits at five years for assault and seven years for assault causing actual bodily harm, Mr Provest said there needed to be tougher penalties to make people accountable for their actions.

Supt Starling said while officers do receive training on how to de-escalate a situation, it’s often lost on those under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“People on ice are just not logical — they go for from zero to one hundred and they don’t think of the consequences — they virtually have no moral compass, it just goes out the window.”

“This is particularly the case with domestic violence offences — people get very agitated when police get involved, it’s the old saying of your home is your castle.”

“ ... and that rings true, except when you’re assaulting a woman or a child.”

Supt Starling said unfortunately, unless there is sweeping change in the community, the issue will remain the same.

“We’re doing numerous operations at the moment to try to reduce the drug intake in our community but it’s not just a police problem, we can’t arrest our way out of the issue, it needs a whole community approach.”