Police vehicle rammings still sky-high despite tougher sentences

Hundreds of police vehicles are being violently rammed despite new mandatory jail time for offenders. Now considered a “regular” part of the job, cops are revealing the attacks’ full impact on the force.

Police vehicles are still being rammed despite tougher punishments for offenders. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Hundreds of police vehicles have been rammed or struck despite tough new mandatory jail sentences designed to better protect officers from violent attacks.

Figures obtained by the Herald Sun reveal police vehicles were rammed 102 times in the year ending November while a further 53 vehicles were wilfully damaged.

Detective Senior Constable Jordan Collinson said it was becoming a “regular thing” on the beat.

“The respect for police is not what it used to be,” he said.

“The majority of us have been a victim. It is not a good thing to happen when you go to work.”

Mr Collinson was on a job in Coburg when an offender “smashed” into the side of his car.

“Forward and back, he did it a couple of times,” he said.

“I was inches away from being seriously injured. It was quite confronting.”

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said while recent legislation was starting to influence ramming figures, there was still a “concerning” number of instances where police were put in harm’s way.

“Our police walk the streets and come to the aid of those in need, not to be disrespected or injured to the point where they can’t come to work or enjoy the simple things in life,” Mr Ashton said.

“Most physical injuries heal over time, and while they can dramatically impact a person’s wellbeing, they often don’t compare with the psychological injuries that can surface years later.”

One member of Victoria Police said rammings are now a “regular thing” on the job. Source: Victoria Police

The number of ramming dropped from 139 the year prior, with Mr Ashton last year saying rammings had reduced for a “period of weeks” following the Herald Sun’s Protect the Badge campaign.

“That sort of stuff can make a difference,” he said in August last year.

Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt said while the drop was “positive”, they were “unacceptable”.

“The ramming of a police vehicle is somewhat unexpected and extremely traumatic for our members,” Sgt Gatt said.

“Every ramming remains unacceptable to us.”

Sgt Gatt said in one case a police vehicle in the western suburbs was rammed “up to ten” times.

“When the offender just continued to reverse and drive into the members, that is a really threatening situation to find yourself in,” Sgt Gatt said.

“The offenders involved should have the book thrown at them.”

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Police have made 527 arrests since the tougher legislation, which carries a 20 year jail term for intentionally driving at an officer, came into play in April 2018.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said more than 60 people had been jailed under the legislation.

Earlier this month police were forced to shoot a man in the shoulder after he allegedly drove at officers and rammed two police cars in Tullamarine.