A woman has been accused of punching a police officer in the face outside a southside shopping centre, ACT police said.
Officers were called to a public disturbance involving several people outside the Calwell Shopping Centre about 7.30pm on Saturday, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
Police said officers were speaking to a security guard who witnessed the public incident when the woman allegedly charged towards one of them.
The 40-year-old is then accused of punching the police officer in the face.
The woman was arrested and taken to the ACT watch house.
She has been charged with assaulting a frontline community service provider.
A police spokesperson said the officer was taken to hospital and released after treatment to her face.
A 40-year-old woman faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday. She was released on bail.
The officer in charge of Tuggeranong Police Station, Inspector Rod Anderson, said violence against police was unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
"This assault that occurred over the weekend on a police officer who is going about their work to protect the community is appalling," Inspector Anderson said.
"Police officers, like all front line responders, deserve to go to work and return home without fear of being assaulted."
He said those who chose to behave in a violent manner could expect to be charged with the offence, and would face "the full force of the law".
