NT government promises 200 extra cops over four years for $200m

A major spend aims to boost the number of cops across the NT, while allegations of racism, recruitment and retention challenges continue to plague the force.

The government has pledged $200m to recruit 200 new police to the Northern Territory Police force over four years. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Northern Territory government will commit $200 million to deliver an extra 200 police officers, while recruitment and retention remain acute challenges as the force tackles allegations of widespread racism within its ranks.

Delivered over four years with an initial $50m set to be included in the upcoming May budget, the extra officers will take the sworn officer target from 1642 to 1842.

Recruitment will begin on July 1.

Making the announcement on Wednesday, Chief Minister Eva Lawler admitted “it will be hard” to fill the positions but said “we’re putting the dollars into it and getting the message out”.

“Reducing crime is my top priority and we will work tirelessly to improve community safety right across the Territory,” she said.

“I think people would jump at the opportunity to come to the Territory and to be part of the police force, so sign up,” she said.

A major review into NT Police has been handed to government and is expected to be made public in the coming weeks.

Ms Lawler said the review noted a need for additional staff, but would not confirm whether it had recommended 200 extra officers.

The $200m was money police had “identified was needed in our budget”, she said.

Police Minister Brent Potter, Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Police Commissioner Michael Murphy. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy agreed recruitment and retention was “a challenge” but said “early intervention” was working to help bring down attrition rates.

“We want to make sure that the people are thinking about leaving, that we engage with them to see if we can help them in any way to stay,” he said.

An investigation into racism in the force is currently underway by the NT police and Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, with preliminary findings that internal awards issued by the Territory Response Group unit were “racist towards First Nations people”.

Mr Murphy said he accepted there was racism in the police and that “we need to make change”.

“I encourage people to come forward, to have the courage and the honesty – we’ll treat them with respect – to identify any racist systemic conduct or language so that we can address it and basically be a better police force that serves the community.”

The Commissioner emphasised interest in recruiting more women and Indigenous people: “we really want to recruit you into our ranks”.

NTPA President Nathan Finn welcomed the news but called for more details. Picture: Fia Walsh

The Northern Territory Police Association said more boots on the ground were “desperately needed”, but called for more details on both the recruitment drive and the police review.

“The fatigue that some of our members are showing because of the workload they’re currently seeing – it’s just unacceptable and we can’t keep putting that pressure on the frontline,” President Nathan Finn said.

“Two hundred additional officers is going to bring respite to those officers that are currently doing it very tough.

“What we need to know is that the finer details … is this going to be above attrition rate? And what are we doing to retain our experienced members?”

The attrition rate sits at about nine per cent, according to the NTPA.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro accused the government of “governing by press release”, saying while she welcomed an expansion of the force not enough was being done to keep police in the job.

“Attrition is a major issue that Labor continues to ignore and hasn’t today put any solutions on the table,” she said.

“It’s one thing to recruit police. But what the Territory also desperately needs is to make sure that we’re stemming the tide of police who are leaving the force.”