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Archived Press Releases 2010 13th December 2010

COP ATTACKERS SHOULD BE TREATED AS TERRORISTS

(13th December 2010)

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says the youths who attacked Police Officer Bruce Mellor should be treated as terrorists and sentenced as such.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said attacks on police were becoming more frequent and more violent, saying that obviously the softly softly approach was not working.

Not only should we arm the police and put two officers on patrols, we also need to send a loud clear message that society will not tolerate this sort of behaviour, and that needs to be done by Parliament, the Courts and the Police."

"Zero Tolerance is the only thing these young thugs and others like them will understand, they need to be named and shammed."

"We believe they should be classified and treated as terrorists from their first appearance in Court. That would mean their names are made public immediately, they do not get Bail and they are ultimately sentenced to preventive detention with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years."

"This was a planned terrorist attack; they stole a car, armed themselves with weapons and attacked a policeman from behind and then left the scene."

Mr McVicar was scathing of the current youth justice system, saying the current law would give the offenders name suppression, possibly Bail and ultimately a family group conference or restorative justice.

"These young thugs are terrorists; another family group hug is not what they need."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.