Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker on NT government’s new response to crime

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker says officers will be diverted from several areas to known hotspots as part of the NT government’s new response to crime.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker says business continuity will be impacted as officers are diverted from a number of areas to meet the Territory government’s new crime and safety response.

On Wednesday, NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and NT Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy announced a spate of new measures to address public safety, including an increased police presence in known hotspots, to start immediately.

Mr Chalker told ABC Darwin on Thursday that he was not present at the announcement because he was in Timor-Leste attending a meeting about building the capacity and capability of Timor’s emergency management.

The meeting was Monday and Tuesday, and he flew back early Wednesday, he said.

Mr Chalker said police would be diverted from other areas, including the Tactical Response Group and Water Police, to meet demand.

“We’ll be pulling police from other duties we think we can ultimately sacrifice for a short period of time, it will have some impact on business continuity,” he said.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has announced an immediate review of bail laws and police powers across the Territory, alongside Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Mr Chalker said the police would be focusing on hotspots, which were places known to be a soft target in relation to crime or areas where police were aware there was frequent offending.

He said NT Police’s biggest challenge in the Territory continued to be domestic violence.

“Our challenge is family domestic violence continues to be our most dominant workload and that then flows on to anti social behaviour,” he said.

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said remote prisoners were being kept in some police watch houses as correctional facilities were at capacity.

Mr Chalker said there was still a significant correlation between domestic violence and alcohol use, with mental health related issues in one or more parties now a significant occurrence.

He said this further increased workload as police had to deliver patients to hospital for treatment, meaning fewer vans on the road.

Commenting on bail law reviews proposed by the government on Wednesday, Mr Chalker said bail was something that should be respected and complied with.

“Bail is not a privilege, it is something that you’re afforded to maintain your liberty,” he said.

Mr Chalker went on to recognise correctional facilities were at capacity, with overflow prisoners being kept at police watch houses.

“We’re taking care of remote prisoners in some police watch houses,” he said.