Northern Territory police chased and hit by stolen vehicle in remote community of Palumpa

Anywhere else in the world, the police would be in hot pursuit of thieves – but in the Northern Territory, it’s the other way around, as extroardinary new footage reveals | WATCH

Police chased by stolen car in remote NT community

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Anywhere else in the world, the police would be in hot pursuit of thieves in a stolen car – but in the upside down world of the Northern Territory, it’s the cops on the run from the crims.

Last week, NT police were filmed being chased in their own vehicle by young men in a stolen Toyota flat-bed LandCruiser, the alleged thieves so cocky they rear-ended the fleeing police car.

The extraordinary footage, filmed on Thursday in the remote community of Palumpa, 350km southwest of Darwin, shows the stolen LandCruiser being driven through the small community in pursuit of the police vehicle while performing wheel spins. Police say at one point the stolen vehicle “bumped” the police vehicle.

The vehicle was spotted a day later in Wadeye, an hour and 40 minutes away.

The brazen antics of the alleged offenders – and the embarrassing retreat of the police – has shocked even Territorians hardened to the daily catalogue of crime and the cycle of repeat offenders freed by the courts.

Most police are powerless to bring the vehicles to a stop, because very few officers have the training to perform techniques such as “pit manoeuvres”, where a police car rams an offender’s in order to bring a pursuit to an end. Quite often officers permitted to perform the risky manoeuvre can be in Darwin, many, many hours away from a remote community, and the police association is calling for officers outside Darwin to be trained in such tactical moves.

Law and order has become a central issue in the Northern Territory during the federal election campaign, with the seat of Lingiari – which takes in Palumpa – held by Labor’s Marion Scrymgour on a razor-thin 1.7 per cent margin.

Ms Scrymgour is battling to keep the seat from the Country Liberal Party’s Lisa Siebert, an Australian Federal Police officer.

The Australian contacted both candidates asking what it meant for the Territory when police were fleeing offenders, and whether police needed to be given more powers to stop the offending, but no response was received from either before deadline.

The NSW-registered vehicle involved in the incident, which was allegedly stolen on Friday, April 4 from a boat ramp in the West Daly region, was recovered on Saturday, and two men, aged 19 and 21, have been arrested and charged.

One source said police will allege that during the offending items were thrown out the window at officers, and the pair have been charged with a “huge amount” of driving offences and assault police charges.

NT Police Association president Nathan Finn has urged for “immediate action” following an increase in “hostile vehicle incidents”, and is calling for enhanced police powers and tactical options following the increase in threats, which have heightened concerns for officer and public safety.

“Our members have their hands tied when it comes to dealing with these types of incidents,” Mr Finn said.

“The current NTPF policies significantly limit most police officers from using tactical manoeuvres to stop these vehicles, often requiring the involvement of the Territory Response Group who are trained in highly specialised manoeuvres.

“Given the vast size of the Northern Territory, relying solely on one specialised unit for these situations is insufficient. We need specialist training for members outside of Darwin who are available to respond in a timely manner to these types of incidents.

“We’re advocating for broader access to these tactical manoeuvres and expanded training so more officers are equipped to respond to these growing threats.

Northern Territory Police Association president Nathan Finn. Picture: Fia Walsh

“It’s only a matter of time before a police officer or a member of the public is seriously injured or killed. We cannot afford further delay – action must be taken now.”

Mr Finn said no progress had been made despite the association’s advocacy for “more robust tactical measures” to permit officers to handle “escalating threats”.

“Unfortunately, despite our repeated calls, no progress has been made,” he said.

NT police announced on Monday that three youths, aged 11, 12 and 13, had been arrested on Friday afternoon in Alice Springs after a stolen Toyota Prado was seen driving erratically in a southern part of the outback town.

Police also said they arrested two 15-year-old males, one 15-year-old female, and two 18-year-old females after they fled another vehicle, a red Holden Cruze, which had been stolen from a property in Alice Springs on Friday morning.