27 July 2020
The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) has welcomed today’s announcement of 131 additional frontline police and support staff to boost the NT’s border checkpoint capabilities during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, but is seeking an urgent breakdown of the $20 million investment to ensure there is sufficient funding for what is being promised.
NTPA President Paul McCue said the commitment of additional police must be supported by all sides of politics, and must continue, regardless of whether there is a change in government in August.
“The NTPA has been calling for above-attrition recruiting for years, given police are often the first to be called on by government when a crisis hits. We have seen police pulled to all parts of the Territory, sometimes away from their families for weeks on end, to keep Territorians safe during this global pandemic.
“The government must ensure our members have the staffing and resourcing to provide a sustainable,
long-term policing model on our borders and to undertake monitoring and quarantine compliance duties, while ensuring day-to-day policing is not adversely impacted.
“The NTPA would like to see a breakdown of exactly how the $20 million in funding is going to be spent to make sure our members will have enough vehicles and equipment, and importantly an increase in support and wellbeing services for officers and their families”.
“Border locations must also have an appropriate infrastructure investment, to cater for this new long-term policing function,” said Mr McCue.
ENDS
Please direct all media enquiries to media@ntpa.com.au or by phone +61 (0) 8 8995 9520
The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) is the industrial voice of all members of the Northern Territory Police Force. Read more via www.ntpa.com.au or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NTPoliceAssociation
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