In 2021, Raina Cruise launched a violent and alcohol-fuelled assault on Senior Constable Anthea Beck on Rundle Street, resulting in significant injuries to the officer. Bodycam footage captured the attack, during which Cruise kicked, punched, and forcibly removed clumps of hair and scalp from Beck. The incident drew widespread outrage when, in December, Cruise was controversially given a suspended sentence, allowing her to avoid immediate imprisonment.
This leniency spurred discontent, particularly from Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, who described the attack as a “violent, cowardly” act that left the officer with lasting scars. Following the public outcry, an appeal was lodged against the initial sentence, and it was upheld, leading to Cruise being sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Stevens expressed satisfaction that justice was served, noting the need to correct the prior anomaly in sentencing. He acknowledged a degree of leniency could be appropriate for some cases but highlighted the extraordinary violence of Cruise’s assault warranted a firmer response.
The revised sentence is hoped to establish a precedent in dealing with assaults on not only police officers but all emergency workers, signalling that such behaviour will meet serious consequences. Commissioner Stevens emphasised the importance of sending a clear message against assaults on law enforcement and emergency services personnel, reinforcing that such behaviour is unacceptable.