NT Police shut down City of Darwin’s offer to create new CBD police beat

A move to ramp up police presence in Darwin City has folded with the NT Police’s rejection of a ‘generous’ offer. Vote in our poll.

A proposal to place a police beat in an empty CBD shopfront has folded despite “daily complaints” of anti-social behaviour in the city.

City of Darwin councillors voted unanimously in favour on Tuesday’s general meeting to offer a vacant West Lane Arcade shopfront to the NT Police in a bid to boost law enforcement presence in the CBD.

It was to be offered under a ‘peppercorn lease agreement’ where rent payments are nominal.

But before council officers had a chance to write a formal offer, the NT Police told the NT News it would not accept the proposal.

“NT Police thank the City of Darwin for this generous and well intentioned offer however, we will respectfully decline at this time,” Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said.

NT Police car in the Darwin CBD. Picture: Floss Adams.

“Police Beats have been tried and tested across the NT over the years and have proven to be inefficient and ineffective in improving social amenity.

“They in fact have the reverse effect as intended by tethering staff unnecessarily to a facility and reducing the capability of police to deliver responsive and mobile policing services.

“As a result all NT Police Beats have been closed progressively over the years and there is no intention of reopening any new facilities.”

Commissioner Wurst said the front counter of the existing Darwin City Police Station 300m from West Lane Arcade was “fully serviced.”

City of Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis said he was surprised at the response, which had not been sent directly to the council.

Mr Vatskalis said it was “frustrating” for the people of Darwin.

“When there was a police beat in Casuarina Shopping Centre, everybody said it worked really well,” Mr Vatskalis said.

“There was no anti-social behaviour, there was no crime.

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis. Picture: Che Chorley

“Then it closed (in 2014) after a fully equipped police station opened 50m away.

“After that, there were all these problems, so something doesn’t seem to be working.”

A 16-year-old was scheduled to face Darwin Local Court on Thursday following an alleged assault of a Casuarina Shopping Centre staff member.

Mr Vatskalis said that despite there being a police station on the corner of Mitchell and Smith Streets, there was a lack of officers patrolling the CBD.

“My issue is having (too few) police on the streets,” he said.

“I wonder why we pay so much money to have security officers with no power riding around on a golf buggy every afternoon.”