Katherine Police ranks swell with arrival of 15 new officers as crime takes its toll on town

Katherine’s 15 new sworn police officers have received a baptism of fire, with the crime-plagued township rocked by a number of high-profile cases recently, including an alleged DV stabbing and two armed robberies at service stations.

Katherine Police Station has received 15 new officers, who couldn’t have come at a better time. Picture: Alex Treacy

The ranks of police in Katherine have swollen by 15, with a fresh batch of officers arriving from various new and old pathways to give strength to a station that’s on the frontline of a fresh wave of property and violent offending.

In a statement provided to this masthead, NT Police Commander Kylie Anderson, who has overall command of the troubled Big Rivers township, said the new officers commenced operational duties on various dates between July 8 and August 5 this year.

They consisted of five constables, six constables who transitioned from frontline auxiliary (PALIs, watch house and front desk officers), and four officers who came to the force via its accelerated recruitment program.

This program is eligible for officers who previously served interstate or are rejoining NT Police.

Commander Anderson declined to reveal the total number of sworn police officers the additional 15 took Katherine Police Station to.

Asked whether Katherine locals could have confidence of the force’s ability to respond to the crime and community safety issues that plagued the town, Commander Anderson said her officers were working hard.

Katherine Tennis Club Inc, located within the sports precinct off the Stuart Hwy, has been hit by burglars a number of times in recent months. Picture: Facebook

“Police continue work closely with our government partners and non-government organisations to collectively respond to community safety issues and all remain committed to preventing and reducing anti-social behaviour and crime,” she said.

“We regularly prepare for seasonal influxes of people with an increase in resources and proactive capability.

“The Katherine community can be assured that NT Police have the capability to react and respond to instances of crime and we urge anyone who witnesses crime and anti-social behaviour to make contact on 131 444, or triple-0 in an emergency.”

NT government crime statistics for Katherine between December 2023 - July 2024. Picture: Northern Territory Government

According to the NT government’s most recently published data on crime in the Territory, Katherine saw a rise in offences against the person in June and July, the two most recent months for which figures are available.

There were a combined 234 offences against the person – mostly assaults and acts intended to cause injury, but also a handful of robberies, sexual assaults and harassments – in the township, some of the highest numbers since last December, when there were 107.

There were 268 property offences – theft, house and business break-ins, property damage –across the two months, which is about average for Katherine going back to December 2023 (data before this time cannot be compared due to the rollout of the SerPro case management system).

Coffee Club Katherine has also been a frequent target of burglars and vandals over the years. Picture: Facebook

The statistics report also warned the number of offences may yet be adjusted upwards by 5–15 per cent in future data releases – for what reason it does not say – meaning June and July could have been worse for Katherine locals than it first appears.

Among high profile cases recently, a 49-year-old man allegedly stabbed a woman at a Katherine Terrace shopping centre, leaving her in a critical condition, while two separate service stations were allegedly subject to armed robberies.

OTR Katherine, the scene of an alleged armed robbery earlier in September 2024. Picture: Google Street View

One involved five masked occupants (one armed with a “large edged weapon”) who also ram-raided a restaurant in a stolen LandCruiser, while the other involved four male youths, two with their faces covered and two armed with edged weapons, police allege.

Originally published as Katherine Police ranks swell with arrival of 15 new officers as crime takes its toll on town