Mandatory sentencing laws strengthened

• Attorney General to ensure minimum mandatory sentence served before parole

• Covers legislation protecting WA police and other public officers against assaults

• Also applies to police pursuit laws

Western Australia's tough mandatory sentencing laws will be further tightened to ensure adult offenders serve their full minimum jail sentence before being eligible for parole.

The new measures will apply to any adult convicted of either assaulting a public officer or dangerous driving causing death or serious injury, while evading police.

Attorney General Michael Mischin will tomorrow introduce the Sentencing Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 into State Parliament to ensure the protection of public officers and deter offenders from fleeing police.

"For people serving a sentence of less than four years imprisonment, parole eligibility arises halfway through their sentence," Mr Mischin said.

"The Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2009, which imposed mandatory terms of imprisonment, did not alter or purport to alter the existing law surrounding parole.

"However, it is the expectation of the State Government and community that mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment mean a mandatory minimum term in custody.  If you are sentenced under the laws for assaulting a public officer, for example, then you should spend a minimum of six months in jail, not part of that time on parole."

For assaults against police and other public officers, offenders face a minimum jail term of 12 months for grievous bodily harm, nine months for bodily harm (in circumstances of aggravation) and six months for bodily harm.

There is a mandatory minimum 12-month jail term for a driver who attempts to escape a police pursuit and engages in dangerous driving which causes death or serious injury.

Police Minister Liza Harvey said the Government had moved swiftly to amend the legislation following a case earlier this year where an offender convicted of assaulting a police officer was granted parole after four-and-a-half months in jail.

"It is important these laws function as intended. That is, to discourage violent attacks on public officers, and therefore provide enhanced protection to those who put themselves in harm's way in order to serve the WA community," Mrs Harvey said.

         Fact File

• Liberal National Government introduced mandatory jail for assaults against police, ambulance officers, transit guards, court security officers, prison officers and youth custodial officers

Attorney General's office - 6552 5600

Police Minister's office - 6552 5900