Western Australia's premier is resisting calls from the state's police union to strengthen penalties for offenders who attempt to ram police cars.
The WA Police Union called for the state government to beef up its laws after a spate of incidents in the state's north, and a ramming in Lake Clifton that left a first class constable with a broken neck.
Union acting president Paul Gale said last month the government should consider mandatory penalties for those caught deliberately driving at officers or ramming police cars, and said a 10-year jail sentence reflected the seriousness of the crime.
Recent figures revealed 54 police were injured during police car ramming incidents between January 2018 and January 2023.
But in a response addressed to Mr Gale and seen by the ABC, WA Premier Mark McGowan said he would not consider new penalties.
"I share your concern about the number of recent incidents where alleged offenders deliberately rammed police vehicles in order to evade arrest," he said.
Mr McGowan listed the current penalties available to prosecutors and said they were adequate.
"My government will continue to monitor these situations and will respond if any deficiencies in the law are identified.
"At present and noting the safety of Western Australia's police officers is of priority, I am confident the existing legislation is appropriate."
A 'long-lasting' impact
It comes after a man was sentenced to one year of jail in Broome after he took several police on a chase around the tourist town in February, and deliberately drove at officers.
He continually crossed onto the wrong side of the road and was recorded driving at 100 kilometres per hour in a 50kph zone.
The police prosecutor said the 19-year-old's actions had left some junior officers with significant trauma, and the incident was emblematic of a popular trend among young offenders across northern WA.
Mr Gale said it was frustrating to see the continued impact the situation was having on officers stationed in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
"It is having a detrimental effect with not only the resourcing capability of our officers up there, but also their own personal mental health," he said.
"It does have a long-lasting impact and, whilst they're doing the hard yards up in that area trying to do the right thing for the community … some of that community is turning on them.
"It makes them second guess their worth as officers."
