The Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) welcomes today’s announcement of $200 million in funding over the next four years, to recruit an additional 200 sworn officers.
NTPA President Nathan Finn said the NT Government has known for years about the shortfall in police numbers and the lack of resourcing, and inadequate staffing levels, comes as no surprise to our hardworking members.
“Our most recent member survey, conducted in December 2023, highlighted that 98.04 percent of surveyed officers said there aren’t enough police to do the jobs expected of them. That number had increased from 97.58 percent in February 2023, and 92.8 percent in 2022.
"This announcement is a good first step to addressing chronic understaffing across the NT Police Force, but the devil will be in the detail.
“The timing of this announcement is curious, given the NT Police Force Resource Allocation Review final report has not yet been made public. We are yet to receive a briefing and were only made aware of this announcement when the Chief Minister, Police Minister and Commissioner of Police fronted journalists this morning. We eagerly await more information on how the funding would be allocated in the budget papers.
“It’s not yet clear whether the additional sworn officers will be Constables, Auxiliaries, or Aboriginal Community Police Officers (ACPOs). It’s also not clear how many additional members will be needed at the Police College to train the new recruits, or whether the $200 million over four years includes funding for additional College staff, or the infrastructure needed to facilitate the increase in recruits.
“There’s also nothing in this announcement that details how NTPOL’s sky-high attrition rate will be brought under control.
“The need for 300 additional officers, just to meet policing demands, as well as a $500 million increase in infrastructure spending for station upgrades and additional accommodation, particularly in the bush, was flagged by former Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage APM, during evidence given at the Kumanjayi Walker coronial in February 2023.
“It’s clear, since then, the situation right across the Territory has deteriorated further, and we question whether 200 additional officers are enough to deal with the record levels of crime, harm and violence plaguing the NT, without adjustments to law-and-order policy settings.
“Members in remote communities are being forced, at times, to work up to 70 hours of overtime in a fortnight simply because there is no one to relieve them, the Greater Darwin region regularly struggles to get more than one van on the road, and the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre (JESCC) is overwhelmed with calls requiring an emergency police response.
“We sincerely hope this funding will be delivered quickly and finally allow members to have some respite”, said Mr. Finn.
ENDS
Please direct all media enquiries to NTPA Communications Officer, +61 (0) 499 017 654 or media@ntpa.com.au
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
