New police ‘high-visibility’ unit set to ‘surge’ across NT

The government has established a new public safety unit in response to surging crime, but there are already questions about staffing.

After years deflecting criticism that the $12m Nightcliff police station is a white elephant, the Territory government has moved to make it relevant by establishing a new public safety unit out of the near-empty facility.

Police horses, uniformed officers, Polaris all terrain vehicles and Commissioner Michael Murphy joined Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Police Minister Brent Potter to announce the foundation of the Territory Safety Division.

Based at Nightcliff police station, the new unit was launched with 10 officers and it’s hoped to grow to at least 50 by the middle of next year. The station, which currently shuts its doors at about 4pm, will remain open until midnight.

The government wants the new unit to focus on high-visibility policing in the Greater Darwin region, with a focus on alcohol and anti-social behaviour.

As numbers increase it’s expected its role will be to deliver a Territory wide surge response to crime.

Cast of thousands on show at the launch of the new Territory Safety Division

Commissioner Murphy welcomed the investment in NT policing.

“This is a really positive step,” he said.

“An investment from government into the police force that’s working tremendously hard.”

“An establishment of up to 60 officers who will help the frontline, be highly visible, be highly engaging. You will notice the difference. It started today.

“We’ve got 10 officers behind us, the mounted unit will support them, obviously the Polaris vehicles too, engaging in social order, upholding the law, detecting and deterring social unrest, looking at road policing options to drive down the harm we see on our roads as well.

“Really importantly (it will deliver) a surge capacity across the Northern Territory to support all our remote police and our other police in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.”

He said it will be a “graduated” recruitment so as not to deplete existing response controls expanding to full strength by early to mid next year.

Gerard Maley said today’s announcement shows Labor has no plan. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“With the alcohol harm reduction initiatives, with reduced bottleshop hours, with the surge capacity, it’s a suite of change that will drive down crime and look at community safety and protect the community.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley said Territorians should take the announcements “with a grain of salt”.

“This is another announcement that shows this Labor government is in chaos and has no plan,” he said. “The question is where are they going to come from.”

He said police recruitment data showed a decline in staffing of about 20 over the past two years.

“Now, somehow this government’s going to pull another 50 out of the back pocket to have a new social group at Nightcliff — Sounds like a bit of pork barrelling to me.”

Police Association president Nathan Finn said a prerequisite for support would be genuine, fully-funded recruitment, not transferring officers between units.

“How much funding is the NT government committing to the TSD?,” Mr Finn said.

“Is it new funding, or will police be forced to try and find it within the existing budget? Where will the additional members come from, and what units/sections/stations will be impacted?

Mr Murphy said police are currently recruiting above attrition with 110 constables and 68 auxiliaries as well as 85 recruits in the police college.

Originally published as New police ‘high-visibility’ unit set to ‘surge’ across NT