John Elferink dishes out some street justice

JUSTICE Minister John Elferink took a break from his regular community meet and greets to dispense a double dose of street justice.

Street Justice Minister

JUSTICE Minister John Elferink became Captain Justice on Tuesday as he made back-to-back citizen’s arrests - and copped a whack in the chops for his trouble.

First, he took a break from his regular community meet and greets to dispense a personal dose of street justice in front of stunned onlookers in the Smith St Mall.

Mr Elferink had set up his well-known stall in the mall and was regaling a punter with “stories from honourable days” when he heard a man swearing at a woman.

JUSTICE Minister John Elferink would be quite at home on the set of the little-known TV series Street Justice. DIGITALLY ALTERED IMAGE

The former copper sprang into action when he turned his head to see the man punch her in the face.

“I grabbed him by the lapels and I told him in no uncertain terms his actions were unacceptable (and) he might want to consider walking in the other direction,” Mr Elferink said.

ELF AND SAFETY

“I think he realised I was earnest in my endeavours and he decided discretion was the better part of valour.

“I went back to my chair and continued to talk to people in my electorate.”

Mr Elferink said the episode lasted about 30 seconds and by the time he had begun to dial police, the man and woman had disappeared in opposite directions.

The incident unfolded in front of dozens of lunchtime shoppers.

“I don’t recommend it for everyone, but from my perspective I would rather wear a bruise or some other injury than to injure my own sense of identity,” he said.

The call to police was never completed, but Mr Elferink said he had not contravened his own domestic violence mandatory reporting laws because he could not be sure of the man’s relationship to the woman.

Police Duty Superintendent Bob Harrison said at about 5.45pm, Mr Elferink (aka ‘Captain Justice’) was at Waratah Oval in Fannie Bay watching his children play soccer when “his attention was drawn to a situation that was unfolding between a male and a female”.

Superintendent Harrison said Mr Elferink decided to intervene and was allegedly punched in the face by a 25-year-old man.

He said Mr Elferink “ground stabilised” the man until police arrived to arrest him.

Mr Elferink said “when it rains it pours”

“There were some people drinking in the area and a fight broke out between two gentlemen and a lady stepped in between. She got a smack in the mouth for her efforts,” he said.

“As a consequence of that I intervened. This gentleman remained belligerent so I was able to restrain him until he was handed over to the custody of police.”

The man was expected to be charged with assault, disorderly conduct and using objectionable words.

In 2012, Mr Elferink famously restrained a drunk Irishman who kicked him in the bum during a press conference.