Maningrida to lose private security guards as NT Police say government will fund new facility

The Arnhem Land community fears crime will return to their town after NT Police chose not to continue co-funding security in the town.

Residents of Maningrida fear crime rates will rise once their security guards leave in June. On April 28, a car was set alight in an apparently deliberate act outside a home in Maningrida. Picture: Facebook

Residents of an Arnhem Land community are grappling with the idea of losing their town’s security guards, as a funding deal with the NT Police comes to an end, while police say the government will be investing in a new facility for the town.

For the past two years, Maningrida has been serviced by two security guards as part of a joint partnership between the town and police, which sees each pay half of the $665,000 annual cost.

That funding, however, was pulled by the NTG and NT Police earlier this year, with the deal due to expire in June, leaving the town without their vital security service.

Maningrida Progress Association CEO Ian McLay said the introduction of the security guards and dogs, who service the shops in the centre of town, had drastically reduced crime, but warned that removing them could see unsavoury types return.

Maningrida Store, which currently has security guards, will see them go after their funding deal with NT Police ends. Picture: Maningrida Progress Association

“We couldn’t lose the dogs because it’s just been so fantastic out here,” Mr McLay said.

“[the guards] basically stopped break-ins.”

According to Mr McLay, NT Police told the people of Maningrida that there was not enough money to go around for all the communities, and funding would be allocated on a “needs basis”.

The MPA has begun consulting with other agencies in Maningrida to try and get new funding for the guards, but Mr McLay concedes that it’s difficult for local organisations to stump up the amount of money required.

An NT Police spokesperson said that as part of the grant agreement with Maningrida, “it was communicated that no further grant funding was available”, and “alternative sources” would need to be consider once the agreement ended.

“Funding provided through NT Government for safer territory places includes community safety initiatives, private security services, night patrol, and lighting projects, and is distributed through the NT Police Force, as part of the existing police budget,” the spokesperson said.

They said NT Police had received funding requests from across the Territory, and that these requests “well exceed available funding”.

NT Police are confident they can service Maningrida, with the NTG committing funding to building a new facility in the town. Picture: Sierra Haigh

“The intention is that communities and regions are considered on a needs basis to ensure funding is shared across the NT.”

Mr McLay said the community was considering alternatives to hired third-party security guards.

“We’re actually looking at another program that can be built here where we get local people guarding the place at night,” he said.

“To continue paying security guards is not sustainable, we know that.”

Mr McLay said the town was looking at hiring consultants to work out the exact parameters of the idea.

“It’s not that we’re just sitting back here wanting the money to just keep coming.”

“ We’re actually trying to morph it into something that’s sustainable, local people ensuring their own community’s safe.”

NT Police said the government had committed funding for a new police facility in Maningrida to “allow for growth in police presence in the town”.

“Maningrida has 8 permanent police members stationed within the community and is supported by an Aboriginal Liaison Officer and surrounding Arnhem Land stations,” a spokesperson said.

“The Northern Territory Police force is confident it can service the Maningrida Community.”

Originally published as Maningrida to lose private security guards as NT Police say government will fund new facility