I'm certain that it would be, csteele.

>>His reply was to say the unofficial response by the police of someone ramming a getaway car to prevent their escape would be absolute delight.<<

And I'm glad you had the grace to point out that this is the unofficial position.

You didn't ask, I notice, what their position would be if you a) had failed to stop them, b) had seriously injured a passer-by and c) had killed one or more of the felons.

Let me speculate. I suspect both their official and unofficial attitude towards a) would be a total lack of interest, and faced with b) they would back away nervously and concentrate on the paperwork. For c), their unofficial attitude would be joyful capering... but what would they be required to say to the public at the press conference?

Perhaps you could ask. My source is a retired Super from the UK, so maybe they do things differently over there.

As far as the Crimes Act is concerned, all that remains is the definition of disproportionate force. In your view, ramming another vehicle meets this test. In mine, it constitutes reckless endangerment of innocent people.

But neither your nor my view matters, when it comes to claiming compensation from the government, does it. Good luck with the negotiations with whatever Department they shunt you into.

Have a great day.

My concern is the furore about Japan’s whaling, it seems a bit much when we are catching every type of edible fish we can on a barbed hook for our food, while we raise hell about the Japanese harpooning the whales which I believe is for their food. We have a population of about twenty three million and a very good area suitable for food production, whereas Japan has a population of 125 million and a string of islands of dubious food growing capabilities with only about 1% of the country suitable for cultivation with about seventy active volcanoes and only a fraction of Australia's area. I enjoy watching whales also.

Dear Pericles,

I certainly did canvas all the above with my cousin and the gist of it is that one certainly has a duty of care to other members of the public and to not use disproportional force. We agreed that the line between mug and hero can be split second in nature and often purely down to luck. He has said there is only about 10% of those he works with who he would entirely trust behind him with a weapon in a tight situation, and these guys are well trained.

Each of the scenarios you mentioned would have to be judged on its merits.

I should reiterate though that the purpose of ramming the vehicle is not to injure but to disable the means of escape thus facilitate the arrest of the offenders. Aiming for a front corner rather than the driver's door would be implicit in that goal.

That is not to say there might not be a situation where aiming for a person was not completely out of the question. If someone pulled into the carpark at Port Arthur on that fateful day and were confronted with the sight over the bonnet of the killer engaging in his massacre then I would have had little problem with that someone planting the foot.

Thank you though for the conversation, prior to this I hadn't realized there was a mechanism in place for people to receive compensation and the topic has raised much discussion among my friends and relatives, the odd one or two even take you position :).

Take care.

Merv 09 do you think your post while of interest is about this threads path.
And do you understand Japan fishes in others seas while it lies about why.
Do you call for a ban on all fishing? or for controlled fishing, do you eat fish.
This was to be about rat bag protesters taking dangerous actions, hoping to raise hell to gain publicity.
csteele tried to defend those actions, by comparing them to other events.
Can we agree, those selling a product, turning that product from obscurity to every day brands, use common sense?
Would you if launching your own brand on the market send scruffy fools to act this way to promote it?
Go back to my suggestion above dress protesters in one color, change it now and again to maintain interest.
Stand quietly showing the sea full of blood/dead Whales.
Get rid of fools and let well mannered be in the group, show protests online invite the good ask others to stay away.
Find a focus, say sing a protest song, different one, each time a target walks past.
Draw middle Australia to you, not chase them away.
Radicals repel normal folk.
Normal folk have the power only them to push or pull politicians.

We sent the taxi cab the idiots have been picked up we pay the fare csteele is not concerned about that.
I am, have you, any of us, watched the TV films of this boats adventures.
Interesting stuff little regard for fairness.
Do we say our dislike of Whaling, wish to end it, is reason enough to hurl acid at humans?
I first felt my support for green peace slipping after watching those programs.
Willing to bet many will reconsider after this.
Next Navy ship sent down there? maybe to arrest the Steve Irwin, for blinding crew men.

I first posted and still believe, the actions are dumb and dangerous.
I still see no reason to ignore that Japan lies killing or food not research.
Even if it was for needed food, we should review our thoughts if it was, this is no way to act.
Defending the boarding at sea, un announced and un well come, of another country's ship is un wise.
We pay the bill.
Well hospitals food aid , so many good things, but we paid to bring the three stooges home.
The protest movement must stop tainting every good protest.
I will not be the only one unsure of future protesters reasons.
Not the only one remembering rubbish bins thrown at police by rag tag unwashed.
Get the TV on to cricket, look for the Richie's dressed as our legend is how about 30 of them out side the Japanese Embassy holding buckets of blood?
Every TV in the world would want air time film.
or has protest got down to the level of this?