Labor backs embattled NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker while CLP calls for inquiry

Despite the rank and file losing faith in his leadership, Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has the support of the Chief Minister while the CLP has called for an inquiry

EMBATTLED NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has received support from the Chief Minister, despite his rank and file losing faith in his leadership.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles on Monday once again gave Mr Chalker her support, ahead of an expected push for a wide-ranging inquiry into the state of the police.

When asked at a media conference Monday whether Mr Chalker had her support, Ms Fyles replied: “Yes”.

This is despite a raft of issues dogging the force at the moment — including an overwhelming vote-of-no-confidence in Mr Chalker and four police being arrested over 48 hours, with charges ranging from violence and corruption offences.

Ms Fyles declined to comment specifically on current police investigations going through the courts but distanced her government from the police arrests.

“It is a big police force, we’re providing them with resources and we are working through the specialised impacts that are across our community,” Ms Fyles said.

This month, Police Minister Kate Worden revealed a government review into police disciplinary protocols had been underway since May.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles (right) has put her support behind NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker (left) after 80 per cent of NTPA surveys said officers had lost faith with the top cop.

“The main point is that it’s taken far too long and people are in limbo,” Ms Fyles said.

“So we need to make sure that there is a fair process but to be fair, it does need to be within a reasonable time frame.”

Ms Fyles said the review had consulted with the Northern Territory Police Association but did not identify any other groups working on the review.

“It’s a big body of work but the Minister Police is doing that,” she said.

“She’s also ensuring those silos between Territory Families and police are broken down so that we have a police service that engages with our community and that is proactive in preventing anti-social behaviour and crime.”

Ms Fyles rejected a suggestion the Police Commissioner was hiding from the media and community.

“I don’t believe the police commissioner is in hiding,” she said.

“He was present at a meeting we had last week with mayors and the presidents of the shires Territory-wide so I don’t believe he’s in hiding.”

The Country Liberal Party are expected to once again push for an inquiry into Territory policing, in line with the 2006 O’Sullivan review.

Ms Fyles said the government would not be supporting the inquiry, calling it a “talkfest”.

“But we need to be careful that we don’t just end up in an inquiry pushing paper around,” she said.

Opposition whip Joshua Burgoyne dismissed that inquiry would be a “talkfest”, saying it would address the lost faith in the leadership of the police, the low morale, high attrition and resourcing issues on the front line.

“The reality is I’m not here to bash the commissioner for police,” he said.

“A serious inquiry needs to take place to look into what is occurring inside the Northern Territory police force.”

The CLP has not addressed the Police Commissioners tenure, calling instead for Police Minister Worden to lose her job over Mr Chalker’s no confidence vote.

Originally published as Labor backs embattled NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker while CLP calls for inquiry