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A spate of police car rammings in Ballarat has become a lightning rod for politicians ahead of next year’s state election. But what is this crime, which has been thrust into headlines this year? Put simply, a ramming is when an offender deliberately drives into a police car, usually in the hope of avoiding arrest. And this dangerous method has been increasing in Ballarat. The number of police rammings spiked across Victoria from just 30 in 2013-14 to 103 in 2015-16. In response, the powerful Police Association of Victoria, led by former Trentham officer Wayne Gatt, called for a specific new offence to target criminals who ram police cars. "Make no mistake, the ramming of police vehicles is one of the most serious health and safety issues facing our members," Sergeant Gatt said in June. The union’s call was seized upon by Victorian politicians on both sides of the divide as law and order shapes up to be a pivotal issue in next year’s vote. The Opposition introduced a bill in August calling for mandatory two-year jail terms for police rammers but this was knocked back in the lower house. Then, just last week, a Ballarat police car was allegedly rammed in a driveway on Park Street, Redan, after officers arrived at a house. Following this, Opposition police spokesman Edward O'Donohue tweeted: “Lisa Neville said on 9 August legislation (regarding) police rammings was "weeks away." While she dithers, police continue to be at risk.” Indeed, Police Minister Lisa Neville had said in August her government’s bill would be broader than just police car ramming, including measures for when criminals drive at police officers who are not in a vehicle. On August 11, two Ballarat police officers on foot were injured after a car allegedly reversed into them on Bradbury Street in Brown Hill. "We are in the process of drafting legislation in conjunction with the The Police Association and Victoria Police,” Ms Neville told The Courier last week. “This will be introduced into parliament soon."

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