Legislative protection secured
Vigorous debate followed the Rann Government’s proposal
to amend self-defence laws under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act early this
year. With its amendment, the government aimed to equip home-owners with the
legal right to use any force they believed reasonable in the circumstances to
defend persons or property.
Many home-owners, particularly those who might have endured
the trauma of home invasions and the like, saw the proposed amendment as a
wholly appropriate, common-sense approach.
As those home-owners rejoiced, however, the Police Association
saw that, with the amendment, came an unacceptable risk to its members.
But how could legislation designed to help innocent residents
protect themselves and their belongings work against the cops? It was obvious.
Operational police officers endlessly attend residential
premises in the course of their duties. In fact, knocking on doors is one of
the most fundamental aspects of police work.
Therefore, officers – particularly those who operate in
plain clothes – were, under the proposed amendment, open to fall victim to
ill-considered “self-defence” attacks.
Clearly, this grave situation called for the introduction of a
critical safeguard into legislation. To that end, the Police Association
lobbied then attorney-general, Michael Atkinson.
He saw sense in the association’s view, and instructed
that, for cases in which officers were performing their duties, “an
amendment be drawn up stating that the extended right to use force does not
apply...”
The association effort paid off. In existence now is
legislation which prohibits any attacks on police officers who enter lawfully
onto premises.
Remembrance Day emotion
Police Remembrance Day on September 29 often proves an
emotional day for those whose loved ones paid for others’ security with
their lives.
Even those such as Constable Adam Barney, who never knew his
fallen grandfather (Never to be mates), feel a firm connection with the
lost of decades ago.
And, to attend the Banrock Station memorial service for John
Dunning Carter and William Murray Wickham is to see strong emotion among the
officers who pay tribute.
It might be a dubious honour for the SA Riverland to stand as
the place of Australia’s first police dead, but the officers of the region
value the site.
Police officers, and members of the public, should regard the
time they devote to remembrance on Sept 29 as well spent.
