Great Southern Police Superintendent Dene Leekong said the laws couldn’t have come at a better time as several of his officers were set upon during a street brawl outside Albany’s Studio 146 recently.

“They were responding to an incident outside the nightclub and were allegedly assaulted,” Supt Leekong said.

“I think these laws are a great step because it appears some members of the community seem to be more than willing to assault police officers.

“This select group has no respect for the police, no regard for the law, and will assault these men and women doing their job.”

Supt Leekong made the comment that numerous police officers had been assaulted in the Great Southern in the past year and no one had been jailed for it.

“These people need to be removed from the community and offered rehabilitation in the way they approach, treat and deal with police officers,” he said.

Supt Leekong said the strict new legalisation was needed after police officer Matthew Butcher was assaulted outside the Old Bailey Tavern in Joondalup.

“He was paralysed and the violent offenders were let off, and as a police Superintendent, it doesn’t make sense to me.”

Police Minister Rob Johnson said the laws were part of a long overdue culture shift in the way police officers were treated in WA.

“In the 2008-09 financial year there were 1,375 assaults on police officers,” Mr Johnson said.

“Where a police officer goes into a dangerous situation in the course of their duty, the officer deserves to know that the laws of this State support them and that there will be serious consequences if they are assaulted.”

The laws will apply to adults and juveniles aged 16 or over.