63 police recruits bolster blue line as attrition struggles continue

‘My dad’s been in the job for 30 years, now here I am, loving every minute of it’: 63 new NT police recruits graduate.

Sixty-three new Northern Territory Police constables will graduate on Friday, June 28, in Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sixty-three new Northern Territory Police constables were set to graduate on Friday, bolstering the Northern Territory’s blue line.

It comes amid persistent challenges to recruit and retain officers, with Commissioner Michael Murphy saying efforts to improve wellbeing and workplace culture were helping to make significant change in the force.

The graduating recruits will be stationed across the NT: 13 in Darwin and Palmerston, 33 in Alice Springs, 10 in Katherine, six in Tennant Creek, and one in Gapuwiyak.

Constable Adam Bacon as Sixty-three new Northern Territory Police constables will graduate on Friday, June 28, in Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

These new constables come with a range of experience and backgrounds, including 12 following in their family’s footsteps and continuing the police legacy.

“I’ve got three family members in the NT Police Force; my father Commander Danny Bacon, he’s been in the job for over 30 years, and I’ve got an aunty and uncle who equally have a long service,” Adam Bacon said.

Mr Bacon loved growing up in the NT, travelling to remote communities and “being part of the lifestyle of a police family”.

Seeking a different challenge after school, he got a health degree at university and spent seven years working in the field.

“Then Covid hit and I did some emergency management and that sort of rekindled the flame,” Mr Bacon said.

“Applied to the Northern Territory Police force and here I am, loving every minute of it.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler, Constable Tineke Close and Police Minister Brent Potter at the press conference as Sixty-three new Northern Territory Police constables will graduate on Friday, June 28, in Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Tineke Close, one of the constables stationed in the Top End, said she was feeling “a little bit nervous, but also very excited to get back out there on the road and help people”.

Originally from Victoria, Ms Close moved to the Territory for a lifestyle change, working as a police auxiliary in Tennant Creek for the past two years.

“I really enjoyed my role as an auxiliary, just working closely with the local people and getting to know them, but I wanted to take that next step to be there on the frontline when they need it most, that’s why I took the chance to transition across,” she said.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Commissioner Murphy said the graduating squad would bring the total number of sworn officers to about 1760, out of a target of 1842.

He said the attrition rate was about 7 per cent from July 2023 to May this year – slightly higher than 2019 figures.

“It’s a huge decrease from previous years,” Commissioner Murphy said.

“The number of people leaving is lessening, and we’re recruiting just as aggressively, and we’ll continue to do that for the 200 (extra officers) over the next four years.”

Commissioner Murphy said police morale was “really good” at the moment, but there was still a “lot of work to do” as they invested in “significant cultural change”.

He said about 120 officers remained on long term leave, and expected 80 per cent of them would not return to service due to psychological trauma associated with their duties.

Sixty-three new Northern Territory Police constables will graduate on Friday, June 28, in Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Northern Territory Police Association said attrition data was being cherry picked by using the financial year instead of a full 12 months.

It estimated that in the year to March, 157 officers resigned, retired or were dismissed, putting the attrition rate at 9.4 per cent.

“You can’t fix a problem if you’re sugar coating it for political gain”, president Nathan Finn said.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said 33 of the new recruits would not be joining the front line, as they had to undergo further training after being pulled from their training to take part in an operation in Alice Springs.

“This is typical of this government, moving around police and leaving other areas short – it is robbing Peter to pay Paul,” she said.

Originally published as 63 police recruits bolster blue line as attrition struggles continue