Police pulled from remote NT border checkpoints, officers to remain on busiest roads

POLICE will begin leaving their posts at remote border checkpoints across the NT from today, but motorists will still be monitored

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POLICE will begin leaving their posts at remote border checkpoints across the NT from today and be replaced with automatic number plate recognition technology.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner made the announcement during a press conference today.

“Based on the advice from the Commissioner, and chief health officer demobilisation of police from some road borders begins today — air, rail and sea entry points remain the same for now,” he said.

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He said police will be demobilised from eight smaller remote road border entries — which includes Docker River, Tobermorey, Lake Nash, Mulga Park, Curtain Springs, Tanami, Kintore, and Fink — over the coming weeks.

However, a physical police presence will remain for now at the NT’s three busiest road borders — the Stuart Hwy, Victoria Hwy and Barkly Hwy.

Mr Gunner said the three remaining road checkpoints would be likely demobilised early next year.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said visitors will still need to complete NT border entry form and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) will be used to monitor people arriving for compliance.

“Through the initial phase as we draw down, we think we’ll get at least 20 (officers) back from checkpoints, but of course they’re doing seven-day rotations so invariably, they need to take some days off,” he said.

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The Chief Minister said he was grateful for those police officers who will continue working at the borders over Christmas.

“I believe that not known by many that our police sacrificed their normal leave arrangements so that we could staff, our borders and maintain ordinary operations in our communities to keep people safe,” he said.

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