The NT’s thin blue line can’t afford to be spread too thin

POLICE in the NT have come increasing pressure during the coronavirus pandemic, but we need to ensure they aren’t spread too thin.

Police officers in Darwin are being asked not to tell the public when they are the only van on duty as the force struggles with staffing woes.

• Darwin cops told not to tell public when they’re only ones on duty as force struggles with staffing restraints

POLICE in the Northern Territory have come under increasing pressure during the coronavirus pandemic.

Our Thin Blue Line has been stretched during these challenging times, with attrition rates increasing and border control points adding to ongoing resource restraints on the NT Police frontline.

The Northern Territory Police Association said anecdotally, the strain of working long shifts (12 hours or more) with limited response crews was taking its toll.

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Many officers have not been able to access leave, and an increase in sick leave is now creating more strain on the ability of stations to have enough response crews on the road each shift.

We know most of these shift sergeants and officers in charge of stations are doing all they can with the limited resourcing they have.

But hopefully ongoing discussions with the police union and department can urgently focus on finding a sustainable roster model for members who are near breaking point.

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The reality they face is there are no more constable recruits coming out of the college until next March or April at the earliest, so if urgent action is not taken now there’s a risk their physical and mental health with suffer further, and sick leave will increase even more.

Police do such an important job ensuring the safety of Territorians and keeping law and order. We need to ensure they are also taken care of and not stretched too thin.