NT police report 49 assaults against officers in 2025 so far, with 25 in the last 30 days
Nearly 50 reports of assault against NT police officers have been made this year, with more than half of those made within the last 30 days. Find out why.
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On March 12, a police confrontation in Alice Springs ended with a 35-year-old man allegedly spitting in the face of an officer who was only doing their job.
The following day, a mounted police officer was allegedly punched in the face while making an arrest in Katherine, putting him in hospital with a broken eye socket.
And just a day after that, a man was arrested in Darwin for allegedly pointing a crossbow at two police officers who had responded to a domestic violence report.
A rash of alleged assaults against police in recent months have left all levels of Northern Territory Police rattled and unnerved, with the attacks seemingly growing more violent.
There have already been 49 reports of assault against police in 2025 — 17 in January, 16 in February and 16 in March (so far).
In the last 30 days alone, at least 25 officers have been assaulted while doing their jobs.
This includes officers having things thrown at them or being threatened with weapons, getting spat on, punched or kicked, and even being driven at by vehicles.
Acting Commander of the Katherine Region, Terry Zhang, said the number of assaults on officers this year was far from normal and it was clear, both statistically and anecdotally, there was a “diminishing level of respect” towards police officers.
“Assaults on police are becoming far too common,” he said.
“This type of conduct is disgraceful … it’s very disheartening to see police officers being scolded for trying to help people.
“Police show up every day to do a hard job to keep the community safe.”
Mr Zhang said he “strongly disagreed” with the kneejerk sentiment that police officers should just accept the abuse as part of the job.
“Yes, policing is inherently a very challenging job that comes with lots of risks,” he said.
“We put ourselves in harm’s way to save people and we are there 24/7 to keep the community safe.
“But it is unacceptable, by any standard, to think that violence against police is ‘acceptable’ or ‘part of the job’.
“Just like any other profession, we deserve a safe working environment.
“I understand that when police are involved in people’s life there are high emotions … but that’s no excuse for anyone to think that being abusive to police, whether it be physical violence or a threat to use physical violence, is acceptable.”
Mr Zhang said more needed to be done within communities, as well as stronger penalties legislatively, to deter police violence.
“We need respect from the community and help from the traditional owners to step in and help us to restore that level of respect,” he said.
“At some point in their lives they will call the police when they need police help – and if it’s not themselves, it could be their family, friends, or neighbours.
“We put ourselves at risk to do our job and the community should consider that.”
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