“Clearly the community are emphatic in their view that there should be less access to bail.” Victorian police minister Lisa Neville said Victoria Police had "strongly opposed bail in this case due to what they felt was an unacceptable risk to the community". "While this is a matter for the court, it's incumbent on the court to explain its decision to the community, and why they went against the advice of Victoria Police," she said. Ms Neville told radio station 3AW she found the court's decision "incomprehensible".

"It also sends the general message that you can get away with this and have the soft touch of the law which is why we have made significant changes to the bail act which comes into force this year," she said. "This person would have been very, very, very unlikely to have received bail under the new changes." Opposition attorney-general John Pesutto said remand "should have been the order of the day". The Coalition has promised to introduce tougher bail laws if elected in 2018."Police officers, paramedics and other first responders need to be protected, as do all members of our community," Mr Pesutto said. But he distanced himself from Peter Dutton's comments that The Coalition has promised to introduce tougher bail laws if elected in 2018."Police officers, paramedics and other first responders need to be protected, as do all members of our community," Mr Pesutto said. But he distanced himself from Peter Dutton's comments that Victorians were afraid to go out to restaurants

because they were scared of being followed by gangs.The Home Affairs Minister blasted the Victorian Labor government over African street crime on Wednesday, accusing Premier Daniel Andrews of undermining the police and the courts and said political correctness had "taken hold" in the state."Peter Dutton's comments in relation to restaurants is not a depiction that I myself would use," Mr Pesutto said. "But let's be realistic about this people in parts of Melbourne are very fearful."The Andrews government has described Mr Dutton's comments as ridiculous and wrong. Images of the police officer's blackened eye and bruised face were released on Wednesday by the Victorian Police Association, to express its outrage over the leniency shown to the alleged offender. The victim, 25, who has been in the force for five years, was arresting a young shoplifter at Highpoint on Boxing Day when a group of teenagers surrounded him before one sank his boot into the officer's face. The association's secretary Wayne Gatt said heightened disrespect for police was putting officers at risk of violent assaults and the courts were letting offenders off the hook. The police officer was assaulted while making an arrest at Highpoint. Credit:Victoria Police Association

The teenager was on 12 months' probation at the time of the alleged assault and has a history of criminal offences including aggravated and attempted aggravated burglaries and car theft. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video An irate Mr Gatt said the incident had left the police officer "shaken up" and caused officers across the state to express fear about performing their duties amid the growing teenage street-gang crisis, largely attributed to young people of African descent. The injured officer after the assault. "He [the victim] is back at work doing the job but it's taken its toll on him and our members," Mr Gatt said.

Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt. Credit:3AW "I've spent the last two days at stations across Victoria and they are literally gobsmacked to witness an assault like this occur. When police officers can be seen to be vulnerable within the community, police start to question their own personal safety at work. "To then hear that offenders accused of crimes like this are released on bail so they could potentially injure other from within their ranks and people in the broader community defies belief." Mr Gatt said serious and violent assaults against police were rising, with 45 more officers injured last year compared with the previous year. He said 1273 officers were victims of violent assault in 2017, compared to 1228 in 2016.

He called for a reform of state's bail system to make it more difficult for those accused of violent crimes to released. "The risk to community safety needs to be given greater consideration through bail reform," he said. "This is a perfect example of a case where police strenuously oppose bail and their concerns appear to have been ignored. "The courts have to send a strong message that our members aren't punching bags ... that this behaviour, this disrespect must stop and won't be tolerated." The accused teen, from the western suburbs, was arrested last week and charged with assaulting an emergency worker on duty, intentionally and recklessly causing injury, and common law assault. He appeared at the Children's Court last Friday and was released on bail.