Six police officers injured after two assaults after violent weekend on the Gold Coast

Crooks have been warned Gold Coast cops are “not punching bags” after six officers were injured in two separate attacks on the weekend. Find out what the city’s top cop has to say.

Crooks have been warned that Gold Coast cops are “not punching bags” after six officers were injured in two separate attacks on the weekend.

Four of those officers needed medical attention.

That includes one who will need extensive dental work after their teeth were chipped and another facing a year-long wait for disease testing results after the alleged offender spat in their mouth.

One of the city’s top cop’s Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon gave a stark warning to thugs who wanted to take on police.

“We are not the punching bags of people,” he said.

“We understand that people are not always going to agree with us when we go to certain circumstances but we are there to keep the peace.

“If people are breaching the peace then their behaviour needs to be stopped.”

Chief Supt Hanlon promised that anyone who assaulted police officers, members of other emergency services or any people out in the community trying to keep others safe they would be “prosecuted with the full force of the law”.

Gold Coast police Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon has warned police are not punching bags after six officers were injured over the weekend. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Police figures shows there had not been a sharp rise in assaults on police in the first part of this year when compared to 12 months ago.

The first incident occurred on Friday night when police were called to a brawl at the Broadbeach tram station about 10pm on Friday.

Police attempted to arrest a 15-year-old girl at the station when she allegedly attacked, including kicking one officer in the groin, punching another and spitting into the mouth of the third officer.

The officer who was allegedly spat on will have to undergo disease testing over the next 12 months.

The teenager was charged with three counts of serious assault police.

The second incident occurred about 10.45pm on Saturday night when police were called to a single vehicle car crash on Bridie St, Upper Coomera.

The alleged driver had left on foot and police claim she was intoxicated when they caught up with her nearby.

Six officers were injured after two alleged attacks over the weekend.

It will be alleged the woman kicked on officer injuring his back, struck another leaving cuts on their hands and punched a third officer in the head.

The woman has been charged with three counts of assault police and one count each of driving under the influence of liquor, driving with a suspended licence and failing to provide a roadside breath test.

She is set to appear in court on May 2.

Chief Supt Hanlon said after the alleged weekend incidents, some officers were already back at work but one was “going to be off for awhile”.

“It’s concerning people for whatever reasons – and it’s predominantly excessive consumption of alcohol or drug, be them illicit or prescription drugs – and they don’t want to take direction or advice from police,” he said.

“Physical violence is their first way to solve some of these issues.”

Chief Supt Hanlon said some people would lash out rather than have a conversation with police, often exacerbated by intoxication.

He said the Gold Coast community expected police to be safe.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the alleged incidents over the weekend were not rare and “another indication of an increasingly violent and aggressive society.”

“Police are regularly confronted by males and females who lash out without warning using techniques that would be familiar to UFC and MMA contests,” he said.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has said assault on police are “not rare”. Picture: Brad Fleet

“There is the potential for people found guilty of assaulting police and frontline emergency workers to be jailed for up to 14 years but the maximum is never given.

“The judiciary need to start responding to community expectations and locking away these violent, cruel offenders.”

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