Murray Smalpage tells inquest Territory needs 300 more cops, $500m in ‘critical’ funding
Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage says NT Police needs hundreds more officers and hundreds of millions of dollars in extra funding to meet soaring demand.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NT Police needs another 300 officers to meet skyrocketing demand as it actively lobbies the Territory Government for $500m worth of infrastructure funding, an inquest has heard.
Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage is presiding over the months-long inquest in the Alice Springs Local Court into the death of Yuendumu teenager Kumanjayi Walker.
Constable Zach Rolfe was acquitted on all charges by a Supreme Court jury last year after fatally shooting the 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man while on duty in November 2019.
On Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Murray Smalpage told the inquiry there had been a 30 per cent increase in reported crime in the NT during the past decade, including a 126 per cent increase in family and domestic violence.
“The demand on our services and the commensurate size of our footprint is challenging and difficult,” he said.
“We believe, your honour, we need in the vicinity of 300 police officers to increase, to enable us to meet the demand on our services and provide an effective response to crime and social order right across the Northern Territory.”
Mr Smalpage said some remote officers were still operating out of shipping containers, which were “at end of life” and “not fit for purpose”, with “in the vicinity of $500m” worth of “critical infrastructure” required.
The fatal shooting occurred after Constable Rolfe’s now-disbanded Immediate Response Team was deployed to Yuendumu after Mr Walker rushed at other officers wielding an axe days earlier.
Under questioning from NT Police barrister Ian Freckelton KC, Mr Smalpage said if the same scenario happened again today, the force would “struggle” to find the resources to respond.
“Fundamentally, the demands on our service, quite bluntly, regularly exceed our capability as we’re currently structured at the moment,” he said.
“So we do, at times, struggle to respond everywhere and we are looking towards capability to have more members at remote locations.”
Dr Freckelton asked: “Straightforwardly, are you asking government to provide more resources so that you can undertake the work that you need to do?”
“Yes, we are, your honour,” Mr Smalpage replied.
“There has been an increase in our remote footprint, but again, we are actively seeking government and federal government support to a bigger plan to ensure we have adequate numbers at our remote and regional footprint, so we can effectively police the needs of the Northern Territory.”
The inquest continues on Wednesday.
More Coverage
Originally published as Murray Smalpage tells inquest Territory needs 300 more cops, $500m in ‘critical’ funding
Man, 19, arrested over alleged assault of two women after ‘forced entry’
A man has been arrested in the Red Centre over an alleged ‘forced entry’ which ended with two women being allegedly assaulted. Read the latest.
Tenth $10k barra reeled in just over a week into Season 10
A lucky fisho hunting a feed has become the latest success story of what has been a thrilling start to Season 10 of the Million Dollar Fish. Find out where he reeled in the latest prize catch.