In the last four weeks 19 assault charges against police have come before Orange Local Court along with another 26 charges of people resisting or hindering police and three charges of intimidation against police.

In one instance to come before court on April 20, a male about to be arrested urged his dog to attack an officer,

In another case a man used a weapon to avoid arrest.

In the last six months among the scores of assaults on officers, one officer was punched unconscious after 15 blows to the head.

He was taken to Orange hospital for treatment and sustained memory loss.

Another officer involved in the same arrest incident suffered injuries to his chest.

One of the cases to come before Orange Local Court in April involved a man who assaulted a family member of a police officer.

Evidence in cases before Orange Local Court in the last few months shows many people who fight police or resist police often unleash a tirade of abuse, threatening to kill or injure the arresting officers.

A former Orange police officer, who didn’t want to be named, told the Central Western Daily policing was dangerous work.

“While people go into the force knowing that,  they don’t expect to go to a job at 3am in the morning to be beaten up,” he said.

“Its getting harder for police and that’s evident in the attrition rate - they get out after a few years because they can’t take the behaviour and abuse because people know they can get away with it.

“Many people are no longer taught respect in the home, or at school and quite often a police officer is the first person to stand up to them and they don’t like it,” the former officer said.

“I think the prevalence of ice too is leading to more people fighting police.”

 Orange City Council crime community safety committee chair councillor Jason Hamling said Orange police, like their colleagues across the state, are to be congratulated for their efforts in keeping the community safe.

“My hat goes off to Orange police and I am disgusted by the small number of people in this city who go out of their way to assault and abuse police and make their job more difficult - most people out there wouldn’t want to do that job,” he said.

“Its all about a lack of respect which is very disappointing and these people who behave this way would be the first ones to call police if they need help,” he said.

Cr Hamling said council wants to do everything it can to support police in their work in Orange.

“I know Orange isn’t on its own with this problem society is now facing but it makes me think what chance do the people of these children have in turning out any other way, when they see this behaviour,” Cr Hamling said.

The large number of assaults, resisting police and intimidation have occurred in a variety of situations, including during arrests for domestic violence, being asked to move on from licensed premises, shoplifting, drug offences and refusal to take a random breath test.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au