NT Police ratios highest in the nation, yet Territorians still feel unsafe

Territorians are the most heavily policed in the country, with the most expensive police force. See why we still feel unsafe here.

TERRITORIANS are the most heavily policed in the country, with about eight officers for every 1000 people.

The latest data from the Productivity Commission said the Territory had the highest ratio of police, the highest average staffing costs and the most expensive police force per person.

Despite this, Territorians feel the least safe out of every other Australian policing jurisdiction.

Fewer people felt safe on Territory streets, homes and public transport than any part of the country.

With 1255 operational officers in 2020-21 the Territory was the most heavily policed region in the country in 2020-21.

Using NT Government data, the Productivity Commission found there were 745 police for every 100,000 Territorians.

Police ratios have been on a steady rise for three years, with 713 NT officers per 100,000 people in 2017-18.

The Territory had more than double the rate of police compared to the next highest jurisdiction, with 312 South Australian police per 100,000 people.

But Northern Territory Police Association president Paul McCue said the police ratios were “irrelevant” given the reports of chronic understaffing from frontline officers.

In a union survey 92.6 per cent of NT Police said there were not enough police to do what was being asked of them.

“We are committed to listening to the police who are on the frontline, day in and day out,” Mr McCue said.

“They are the only ones who can truly provide perspective on how many police are needed to undertake the roles and responsibilities forced upon them by government — roles that are more demanding than ever before.”

The NT force cost each Territorian $1807, more than four times the cost of police in the ACT and three times the cost for West Australians.

The average staffing costs per officer in the Northern Territory was $212,323.

This was $48,211 more than the next highest paid jurisdiction in New South Wales, and $85,626 more than Tassie police.

A NT Police spokesman said the scale and remoteness of the Territory was a significant factors in the high costs.

“Policing in the Northern Territory incurs significant service delivery costs due to the remoteness and accessibility of many of our communities which are spread across 1.4 million square kilometres,” he said.

The Productivity Commission data said the amount spent on police had been on a steady rise since 2016-17, with an average annual growth rate of 4.9 per cent.

Total spending remained well below the larger states, with total accrual costs reaching $445.4m — about a tenth of the police budget in both New South Wales and Victoria.

Despite living in the most policed region of Australia, Territorians were the most scared of becoming victims of crime.

The National Survey of Community Satisfaction with Policing found Territorians had the lowest perception of safety in their own homes, on the street and while on public transport.

Nearly a third of Territorians felt unsafe in their home at night.

When walking alone in their own neighbourhoods, 82 per cent of Territorians said they felt safe, but during night time that fell to just 40 per cent.

Only 15 per cent felt safe while on public transport at night.

Mr McCue said this sentiment reflected the scale of crime in the Territory “despite the best efforts of our hardworking members”.

He said Australian Bureau of Statistics data found the Territory had the highest rates of domestic, family and sexual violence in the country.

“When a member of the community calls for help, they want police to be able to respond. This can only happen if our members are appropriately resourced,” Mr McCue said.

The Productivity Commission said the Territory had the second highest rate of complaints against officers, behind only South Australian Police.

In 2020-21 the NT Police had a record breaking rate of complaints from the public, with 39 complaints for every 100 operational staff.

The survey found Territorians had the lowest satisfaction rate with police, with 71.8 per cent saying they were “totally satisfied” with the NT Police.

Every other policing jurisdiction had satisfaction rates higher than 79 per cent.

Territorians who did have contact with police in the past 12 months had a higher rate of satisfaction, at 82.7 per cent.

NT Police said it was working to address the community’s sentiment through the NTPFES Ten Year Strategy – Project 2030.

“We are constantly seeking to improve our service delivery,” a spokesman said.

Police Minister Kate Worden said she was working with Territorians and police to understand the low perception of safety and low satisfaction rate with police.

“The Minister is consistently engaging with Territorians and police to learn first-hand of their positive experiences and their concerns about policing in the NT,” a spokesman said.

“The Productivity Commission report highlights both the significant financial resources allocated to policing in the Northern Territory, and the immense challenge of supporting policing activities across some of the most remote and difficult to access locations in Australia.”