CLP calls for better alcohol policies as NT Police spend hours driving people around

The CLP have slammed the Government’s alcohol policies after the number of times NT Police spent ferrying people around was revealed. SEE THE NUMBERS

NORTHERN Territory Police are wasting hours “being a taxi service” for crooks and drunks according to the Country Liberal Party.

Questioned by Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro during Estimates Committee hearings in June, the Government has revealed thousands of police trips ferrying people about the Territory.

In the year to March 2174 people were taken to a watch house, 3312 to sobering up shelters, 501 to hospitals or clinics and 1803 were taken home.

That’s a whopping 7610 trips transport trips made by NT Police in the nine-months until March.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the damning data shows police are being forced to waste hours being a taxi service rather than fighting crime.

“Our police have essentially turned into a taxi service, due to the Labor Government’s failed alcohol policies,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.

“When there is only one or two vans operating in the northern suburbs, taking those resources off the street to shuttle people around means that calls for other serious crimes may go unanswered.

“It is outrageous that our police are spending hours stuck in the car, when they should be on the beat.

“Our police are not trained to act as Uber drivers or social workers, they are trained peacekeeping officers that should be on the street dealing with serious crime, not spending endless hours driving drunks around.

“Every alcohol policy we have needs to be re-evaluated, including the BDR. It is clearly not working as intended and the 2km rule must be reintroduced as a critical measure to deal with alcohol abuse in our streets.

“The floor price should be scrapped immediately, as there is no evidence that it has done anything but make matters worse.

“The CLP will get police back on the beat where they can make a real difference. We will also review the Banned Drinker Register, scrap the minimum floor price, bring the police portfolio under the Chief Minister and use whatever tools necessary to make sure alcoholics get the help they desperately need.

“Natasha Fyles and the Labor Government have failed our police and failed Territorians.”