St John, NT Police take stand against assaults on frontline workers
The Territory’s frontline workers are taking a fresh stance against violence this holiday season after a paramedic was punched in the face in Alice Springs.
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The Territory’s frontline is taking a renewed stance against violence after a paramedic was punched in the face on the job in Alice Springs.
St John NT said the paramedic was assaulted by a female patient experiencing a seizure in the early hours of Wednesday.
Operations manager Craig Garraway said the behaviour was “completely unacceptable.”
“It is just really disappointing – this unfortunately happens a bit across the Territory during the year and I really get disappointed with that type of attitude,” he told ABC Radio.
“We go there to help people and unfortunately come out the ones assaulted.”
Police were notified and attended the scene where they took statements from crew members.
Mr Garraway told the NT News St John was providing support to the paramedic, who was not seriously injured.
“We ask people to please respect all emergency workers and healthcare providers who are there trying to help you,” he said.
“It is never OK to assault anyone. Our paramedics treat everyone with respect and they deserve the same in return.”
“(They) do a fantastic job out there every day helping everyone, no matter what the circumstances are.”
Southern field officer Peter Stowers said assaults against the Territory’s frontline in blue was increasing.
“On any given day across the Territory there will be at least one of our NT police officers assaulted,” Mr Stowers said in the NT Police Association December newsletter.
“With confidence I will say that be it … deliberate or an unintentional action, more police officers are being injured in the arrest process than those that are being apprehended.
“Some members have been assaulted so often that they can’t recall the exact number.”
Mr Stowers also said rising violence against police stationed at bottle shops was “concerning”.
“The likelihood of being assaulted during an evening shift by an alcohol-charged client who is angry at being refused service at a point-of-sale intervention location is escalating,” he said.
“Police auxiliary liquor inspectors have less powers, have less training and experience – compared with constables – yet they are often rostered in arguably (one of) the worst workplace environments in the Territory.”
NT Police have warned partygoers of an increased policing presence, including RBTs, in Darwin this New Year’s Eve.
“There’s a planned operation in town that basically happens every year,” Road Policing Superintendent Peter Malley said.
“That will involve lots of police on the street – foot patrols, segway patrols, horses, there’ll be dogs and of course there’ll be traffic.”
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Originally published as St John, NT Police take stand against assaults on frontline workers
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