Policing Board Member Alan Chambers MLA has called for new charges and sentencing guidelines that reflect the severe reality of using vehicles to ram police officers or their cars.

He argued that the current road traffic legislation used to prosecute these crimes is failing to provide a suitable deterrent.

Mr Chambers said that using a car to steer directly at officers or deliberately ram a police vehicle is a "new weapon" that has the potential to "kill or seriously injure officers" carrying out their duties.

He highlighted two recent incidents from the past weekend:

– In Cookstown, two officers were injured and had to be removed from duty. – In Jonesborough, no injuries were inflicted, but both police vehicles suffered major damage and will be unavailable for patrol.

Mr Chambers argued that if a vehicle is considered a "lethal weapon" capable of causing life-changing injuries, the charges should be the same as if a gun were discharged at officers—namely, attempted murder.

He concluded: "Treating such crimes under current road traffic legislation does not provide the deterrent effect that is required to protect the safety and well-being of police officers... In my opinion, it is an attempted murder and the charges and punishment available to the courts should reflect the reality of the intent behind these attacks on police officers."

Chamber urged the Minister for Justice to consider introducing a "genuine deterrent".