A southern Tasmanian woman has been charged with attempted murder after a police car was shot as officers drove up a driveway, police say.
Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said three officers arrived at a property at Collinsvale, near Hobart, in an unmarked police car just before 4pm on Sunday with a search warrant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
“Upon entering the property and driving through the front gate, police became aware that something had struck their vehicle,” Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said.
“Shortly afterwards, a 37-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were taken into custody without incident. Both were found in possession of firearms.”
Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said three police cars attended the Collinsvale home. (ABC News: Clancy Balen)
He said three police cars had attended the residence to execute the warrant, and the front police vehicle was unmarked.
A single bullet hole was found near the front right wheel guard of the unmarked vehicle, he said.
Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said it was his understanding a single shot had been fired from a rifle.
“At this stage, investigators believe the residents did not realise it was police entering the property,” he said.Can you help?Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000Report anonymously via the Crime Stoppers website
“Regardless, it is reprehensible that our officers were placed at such risk while performing their duties.
“This incident could have had tragic consequences, and it was extremely fortunate that no one was physically harmed.
“This is not what we want to see in our community.”
Collinsvale is about 19 kilometres north-west of Hobart’s CBD. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
The woman was charged with attempted murder and several firearms-related offences. The man has been charged with firearms offences and attempted aggravated assault.
Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said two other people present at the time were also arrested, but had since been released “unconditionally without any charges”.
Police said two other people present at the time were also arrested. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
On Monday afternoon, the woman and man appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court where their applications for bail were denied.
The hearing was adjourned without plea.Â
Both will remain in custody until their next court appearance in November.
Policing a ‘risky business’
Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said the three officers who were in the car shot at returned to work on Monday, with support available to them.
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He said this incident, along with others nationally, were reminders of just how dangerous policing could be.
“Our people are very well trained, they’re well equipped, they make good, dynamic decisions. But what it does reinforce is the fact that policing is a risky business,” Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said.
“It’s dangerous and, unfortunately, there’s an element of uncertainty when it comes to what we do in the community, despite our best planning.
“There’s always an element of risk.”Crime trending downwards
After an altercation on Hobart’s waterfront over the weekend, a 20-year-old man died while a 23-year-old was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Assistant Commissioner Bodnar said while it was “concerning” to have multiple serious incidents across a single weekend, the stabbing was an “isolated incident”.
He said overall crime statistics across the state were on a downward trend, and the community was safe.
“When you look at our statistics across the board over the past two years — and particularly if we look at the last financial year — we saw a reduction of about 4 per cent for total offences committed across the state of Tasmania.
“So that was in the order of about 34,600 offences.”