THEY are statistics we should be red-faced and ashamed about.
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Police officers have been assaulted 26 times since the start of the year and a further 71 instances of people resisting or hindering an officer in the execution of their duty.
These cases have all happened in the Albury Local Area Command with Albury not surprisingly at the epicentre of the trouble.
A noticeable spike in assaults towards the guardians of public safety is happening once a fortnight which is simply not acceptable.
The Border Mail this week reported the disturbing incident when last month police were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue a woman outside Zed Bar after she punched an officer to the back of the head and bit another officer.
Magistrate Tony Murray labelled the drunken 24-year-old's behaviour as “disgraceful” and warned she was at risk of going to jail.
Superintendent Evan Quarmby said his force was not going to tolerate such behaviour.
"They’re out there doing their best to keep people safe and there is no situation where they deserve to be injured in that process," he said.
"People can rest assured, if they’re going to put their hands on a police officer, there will be a court appearance in the very near future."
His strong words also need to be backed up by the court system to deliver the strongest possible message such behaviour is not acceptable or tolerated in our community.
In most or if not all cases of assault towards police officers alcohol and drugs are the common denominator to trouble starting.
As the Christmas party season swings into overdrive followed by the summer holidays, the community must be reminded of the need to show respect towards police officers and let them get on with their difficult job in keeping law and order.
Albury and our Murray River towns of Corowa, Yarrawonga and Mulwala are all holiday hotspots which become inundated with people with New Year's Eve one of the most demanding nights on the calendar for police.
These locations are all fantastic destinations with first class licensed premises to gather with friends and family to relax and enjoy eachothers’ company.
But they are no place for anti-social behaviour. You've been warned.