Two New South Wales Police officers have been charged with the assault of an elderly man following an incident in Sydney’s south west earlier this year.
Sky News host Chris Kenny has backed calls for stronger bail reforms in a bid to protect potential victims of domestic violence and knife crime.
It follows a four-day NSW Police operation from Wednesday to Saturday, which led to the arrest of 554 people and 1,070 charges laid for domestic and family violence offences.
“We can have all the law changes we like and all the police crackdowns, but until we get serious about refusing bail when anyone is accused of threatening behaviour or threatening with a weapon, then potential victims are going to be left exposed,” Mr Kenny said.
Police officers responded to reports of a domestic incident at a home in Picton on Sunday, 21 January.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said during a media conference on Thursday the elderly man was arrested by the officers and allegedly received his injuries during the arrest.
A statement revealed he was taken to hospital with a fracture to his right elbow and significant bruising to his head and arms.
After an internal investigation, a male senior constable and a male constable, both attached to the South West Metropolitan Region, were served court attendance notices on Wednesday for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Two police officers have been charged with the assault of an elderly man following an incident in January this year. Picture: supplied
The constable is also facing a further charge of assault.
One of the officers will appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday 30 July.
The other will appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday 6 August.
Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed the officers were suspended from duty.
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She said it “appears to be the case” the elderly resident may suffer from dementia.
“Police were called via triple 0 on two occasions, about seven minutes apart, from a resident, and that person may or may not have dementia – I think it’s likely that that person has dementia,” she said.
“Having said that, police officers are called to matters like this, triple 0 or otherwise – they don’t know what they’re walking into.”
She said the officers were wearing body cameras and she has viewed the footage but declined to comment on it.