Warders Seek Heavier Penalties For Attacks

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31150, 29 August 1966, Page 9

Warders Seek Heavier Penalties For Attacks

What was described as the increasing incidence of assault on members of the prison and police forces by lawless, dangerous elements, often resulting in permanent injury or death, was discussed at a special meeting of the Paparua prison officers subgroup of the Public Service Association last week.

The meeting adopted a resolution strongly urging that the subgroup and the Police Association combine in presenting to the Government and the public the case for the imposition of effective penalties designed to protect prison and police officers against acts of violence during the execution of their duties.

The sub-group also decided to urge on the central committee and the prison officers’ group as a whole that the group strongly advocate the reintroduction of capital punishment for the murder of a prison dr police officer, and the reintroduction of corporal punishment and

more severe prison terms for acts of violence against such officers. Prison officers said that the special meeting was also attended by‘three observers from the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Police Association the president (Mr J. Farrow), the secret-

ary (Mr J. E. Braily) and a committee member, Mr E. S. Tuck.

Mr Tuck told the meeting that in the last few years the task of the police had become increasingly difficult and dangerous, and the hazards had multiplied to a large degree.

He said that since about 1946, 10 police officers had been murdered in New Zealand in the line of duty. At least six of these 10 cases had occurred in very recent years. Chairman’s Views

The chairman of the Paparua prison officers’ subgroup (Mr W. A. Lake) told the meeting that a very grave problem confronted both prison officers and police officers and the general public.

“I refer to the everincreasing incidence of assault on members of our respective forces by lawless and dangerous elements—assaults which so often result in permanent injury and even death to some of our members —and to the inadequacy or otherwise of the penalties imposed on the offenders,” said Mr Lake;

Prison records showed only too clearly that acts of vio-

lence against police and prison officers had increased in recent years. He instanced riots at Mount Eden and Paparua prisons and assaults on officers at Paparua, Waikeria, Invercargill, and Mount Eden. The shooting and killing of four police officers at Auckland some 18 months ago and the killing of a police officer in Dunedin this month, he said, emphasised the gravity of the situation. “Almost Daily”

The almost daily resistance to the police and assault on them by unruly elements, said Mr Lake, must surely be a warning to thinking people.

“If this is not sufficient evidence of the mounting prevalence of violence against duly constituted authority, then the recent ruthless murder of three unarmed police officers in England—the birthplace of our law and society—should cause the tocsin to sound even louder,” said Mr Lake. Violent acts had become so prevalent as to be almost commonplace. Mr Lake said there were nine recorded cases of assault on prison and police officers in the period from 1961 to 1966. Seven of these occurred between 1965 and 1966. In all these cases prison officers were injured, two at least suffering permanent injury.