Thug Australian cop attacks schoolkids

Two schoolboys have made statements to police alleging they were assaulted by an off-duty officer they feared was trying to abduct one of them by dragging him into his car. The boys, aged 16 and 15, and a female friend, 14, told police they were walking home from a high school in Adelaide's western suburbs about 3.40pm on Tuesday when a car stopped and a man flashed a badge at them.

They said the car stopped and the man, who was wearing football shorts, got out and asked for identification. When one of the boys offered his wallet, they said it was thrown on the ground. Police confirmed the man, who allegedly grabbed the boys' school bags, was an off-duty police officer. The mother of one of the boys said that "at no time did he identify himself as a police officer, other than just the flash of what they thought was a badge when he pulled up".

One of the boys told The Advertiser he feared they were being robbed and pushed against the man to reach for his bag. "I thought he was trying to steal our stuff after he threw the wallet on the ground. . he put me in a headlock then pushed me on the ground and stomped on my hand," the boy said. I was trying to push him off and my friend was trying to push him off . . . Then he said he'd take us to the police station and get us locked up. Then (he) just said `F. . . it, I'll take you myself' and tried to drag me to his car."

A motorist parked in a van across the street yelled out when the officer dragged the boy towards the car, thinking he was witnessing an abduction. When the witness yelled, the boys say the man got back into his car and left. The witness came over and helped the bleeding teenager as one of the group wrote down the car's registration.

Forensic technicians were called to take photographs of the boy's injuries, which included cuts, a swollen hand and fingers, and a scalp injury from which hair was allegedly pulled out.

A police spokeswoman said the officer believed the boys had been damaging a street sign and he had gone to the school to find out who they were and later found and stopped them in the street. Police investigations were continuing and the witness from the van would be interviewed.

Original report here






Australia again: How soft on crime can a Leftist government get?

Convicted rapists, robbers, thugs go free

ALMOST 150 Queensland rapists, armed robbers and violent thugs convicted in the past year were never jailed. The shocking statistics were confirmed by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine. In 2007-08, 18 rapists, 88 armed robbers and 39 people who committed brutal bashings avoided jail time despite their serious offences. "This highlights the soft approach the Beattie-Bligh Government has taken on crime," Liberal leader and Opposition justice spokesman Mark McArdle said. "The courts are not able to hand out sentences that are a real deterrent . . . what message is that sending out?"

Mr McArdle said the government figures also revealed that of 826 people convicted of rape, attempted rape, armed robbery, robbery and serious assault, not one received a maximum sentence. "Surely some must have warranted a maximum sentence," he said. "If you take 10 per cent, that is about 80 people. One per cent, about eight people. But in Queensland in the past year, not one person received the maximum sentence."

The release of the data followed the re-sentencing of nine males who avoided jail over the gang rape of a 10-year-old girl at a Cape York Aboriginal community. An appeal by Mr Shine resulted in the overturning of non-custodial sentences given to the three adults and six youths. The Court of Appeal jailed the three men for six years, while two of the youths got three years' detention.

Mr McArdle said the public would be stunned to discover that 18 rapists convicted this year were walking the streets. "It is bad enough having attempted rapists on our streets, but how do 18 people guilty of rape not go to jail? Society demands that rapists spend time behind bars." Mr McArdle said blame lay with the Government: "Courts cannot act outside the parameters set by Government. The Penalties and Sentences Act needs to be overhauled."

But Mr Shine said: "The task of sentencing offenders is the responsibility of judicial officers. As Attorney-General, if I believe a sentence imposed is manifestly inadequate, I can appeal that sentence."

Source. (Via Australian Politics)




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