A sentence of 14 days' imprisonment for spitting on a police officer under s 189A of the Criminal Code (NT) is manifestly inadequate where the offender has a significant prior record for violence. The appropriate range for such offending is in the order of two to four months' imprisonment. Sentencing courts must not rely on authorities that predate the tenfold increase in maximum penalty from 6 months (under the former s 158 Police Administration Act) to 5 years (under s 189A Criminal Code), and must take into account the risk of communicable disease transmission.
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