NT Police offer extra relocation incentives in bid to boost recruits

The Acting Police Commissioner has detailed a bold plan to keep recruitment above national attrition pressures. Here are the incentives for new officers.

NT Police have successfully put 86 recruits through its academy this year with another 85 currently in training. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

Despite the Territory having more officers in blue than ever before, the agency is bolstering ahead to keep pace with attrition.

Since Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy stepped in as acting head, NT Police has more than doubled the relocation incentive from $8000 to $20,000 for interstate recruits.

Mr Murphy said 14 hopefuls had applied since the announcement was made earlier this month.

“It’s about bringing people to the Territory and bringing Territorians into the ranks of the Police, Fire and Emergency Services to make a difference to community,” he said.

“As well as the over 80 (recruits in training) we’ve got another at least 80 coming into the college in the next three months.”

Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy has confirmed he is contending to take on the top job permanently. Picture: Supplied

The first cohort of 85 is expected to be on the beat by September – joining the 32 constables, 41 auxiliaries and 13 Aboriginal liaison officers to graduate since January this year.

However Mr Murphy said about 390 officers had left in the past three years, with attrition sitting about 10 per cent.

“It’s a real challenge across Australia at the moment – there’s lots of competition for recruitment to law enforcement,” he said.

“But we’re the only jurisdiction across Australia that’s actually recruiting more than attrition.”

Police Minster Kate Worden said the agency had also recorded a number of former NT police officers recently rejoin the force.

Alice Springs is set to get an extra 30 police officers and 21 auxiliary liquor inspectors as part of a $14.2m federal government budget promise. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“This is a great time for the Northern Territory police, numbers are strong,” she said.

“We are delivering more for police, with better resources and a stronger budget to ensure a safer Territory for everyone.”

Mr Murphy said current police funding – which did not get a significant increase in the government’s 2023 budget – had enough to accommodate the boosted relocation reimbursements.

One policing area the government did prioritise in its new budget was a new NTPFES wellbeing strategy, announced earlier this week.

The initiative is set to cost $12m over the next four years and provide police greater access to psychiatrists, as well as better exit support.

Police Minister Kate Worden has promised to allow an independent police resourcing review as part of EBA negotiations with the police union. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

It comes after four current and former NT cops died by suicide in the last year alone.

The government has also promised to fund an independent policing resource review – something both the political opposition and police union have long called for.

Ms Worden would not be drawn on a timeline on the review though, saying a new electronic rostering system had to be finished first.

“That will move us forward quite quickly (and) we’ll be able to look right across the police force and see where those gaps are,” she said.

“Once that’s happening, then we’ll be able to have a look at that independent external review.”

Ms Worden would also not comment on when the independent review would take place.

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