The law seeks to ensure that police, and other prescribed emergency service workers, are protected when they carry out their official duties. Courts regard offences against the police, especially the offence of assaulting police, as serious. A person convicted of committing such an offence will often receive a prison sentence.

Under s 5AA(1)(c) of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) an offence is aggravated if the offender committed the offence against a police officer, prison officer, employee in a training centre or other law enforcement officer knowing that the victim was acting in the course of their official duty, or in retribution for something the offender believes to have been done by the victim in the course of their official duty. Offences are also aggravated if the offender committed the offence against a victim engaged in a prescribed occupation or employment (whether on a paid or volunteer basis), such as hospital staff or other emergency service workers, knowing that the victim was acting in the course of their official duties [s 5AA(1)(ka) and Criminal Law Consolidation (General) Regulations 2021 (SA) reg 4].

There are also standalone offences to protect police and other emergency service workers from assaults and other conduct.