South Australian cops return home leaving Alice Springs with a month long 10 cop shortfall

Interstate policing help has left the Red Centre capital, leaving a 10 cop shortfall in its wake – but the Chief Minister says a recently established taskforce is continuing its efforts ‘into the future’.

Northern Territory police patrol the streets of Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The Red Centre capital is down 10 cops after help from interstate left the troubled town, but the Chief Minister says a “permanently established” task force “will continue its efforts into the future”.

This masthead understands additional police officers deployed from South Australia to Alice Springs returned to their home state on Tuesday.

During the deployment, a single SA male officer was flown home early after he received a minor hand injury during a routine arrest.

SA police did not respond to queries from this masthead on the officer’s status in the wake of the other officers leaving Alice Springs.

The cops from South Australia were sent at the request of NT Police commissioner Michael Murphy, with 10 officers coming to Alice Springs over four eight-day rotations.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy chats with Alice Springs residents during coffee with a cop in the Todd Mall. Picture: Gera Kazakov

NT cops stationed in Alice at the time were then sent to other towns in the Territory – such as Katherine – in a shuffle orchestrated by Mr Murphy.

Alice Springs will be short 10 cops until new NT Police recruits head to the town in “mid-March”, Ms Finocchiaro said on the radio.

Elaborating further to this masthead, Ms Finocchiaro said “the 11 officers are from the next graduation squad, as determined by the (NT Police) Commissioner (Mr Murphy)”.

“With school holidays over, police are transitioning to the next phase of operations and continue to monitor the situation closely,” she said.

Alice Springs police station. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“Interagency agreements are invaluable in supporting policing jurisdictions, and we’ve seen strong results from Operation Ludlow and the Fugitive Taskforce, which have delivered productive policing outcomes in Alice Springs. Now permanently established, the Fugitive Taskforce will continue its efforts into the future.”

The fugitive taskforce was established in Alice Springs in the wake of a horrific attack on an eight week old infant, who was flown to Adelaide to receive treatment for her injuries.

Police have accused two youths, aged 16 and 17, of the attack, who were arrested and placed on remand.

Northern Territory Police southern commander James Gray-Spence announced the commencement of Operation Ludlow in November 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

In the wake of the attack, it was revealed the two youths had both reportedly been bailed a collective 35 times and charged with about 300 offences prior to the attack.

Neither entered a plea at their first court hearing in December, and both will reappear in Alice Springs Local Court in February. 

The SA cops departure comes as NT Police’s Operation Ludlow is due to conclude on Monday, February 3.

NT Police have not responded to queries from this masthead asking if Operation Ludlow has concluded.

Operation Ludlow was extended to February past its original competition date of January 28, in line with school holidays ending.