NT Election 2024: Labor pledges extra $1.4m for private security patrols

The CLP says reliance on private security shows Labor’s failures on crime, while the government says it is a commonsense move to bolster the frontline.

Territory Labor has pledged an extra $1.4m for private security services in the NT. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Territory Labor has promised an extra $1.4m to provide more private security services, as progress in growing the police force remains slow.

The extra funds for Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs would roll out from October and allow shopping centre operators to introduce security or expand current services.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro would not confirm whether a CLP government would match the commitment, saying more needed to be done to support police.

TPS Security managing director Terry Papazoglou and Chief Minister Eva Lawler, as Labor pledges an extra $1.4m for private security services in the NT. Picture: Fia Walsh.

“Private security across the Darwin CBD has been really important, but equally we’re going to back in and support our police with more resources and better powers to be able to do their job,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.

“Labor continue to put band aids on measures, and fail to do the actual work that’s required to protect our community and support our police.

“We know that to stop crime, we’ve got to get kids in school and hold parents accountable. We’ve got to make sure police have the right powers to support our community, and that they are backed.”

Police Minister Brent Potter said private security had an important role to play in curbing anti-social behaviour.

“We’ve seen crime increase over the last couple of years, and we’ve increased the police budget by $570m – I think that’s a commitment to Territorians that we’ll do whatever is required,” he said.

“It’s a commonsense approach, more resources into police, and more resources into private security. As much as I’d love to be able to click my fingers and hire 270 officers tomorrow, that’s going to take time.”

TPS Security managing director Terry Papazoglou and Chief Minister Eva Lawler, as Labor pledges an extra $1.4m for private security services in the NT. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The $1.4m commitment plugs a $400,000 hole left by Darwin City Council, which this year cut its contribution to the service.

Mayor Kon Vatskalis defended the move, arguing law and policing was the responsibility of state and Territory governments.

“We supported the patrols in the beginning because we were promised we were going to see more police in the streets – we didn’t,” he said.

“We spent nearly $2m from council resources to provide patrols in the CBD area, if I was living in Tiwi or Karama I would say ‘hold on, my rates are going to pay someone patrolling the CBD. People that have no power to arrest, no power to move, no power to pour out.”

TPS Security managing director Terry Papazoglou said anti-social behaviour in the CBD had decreased in the five years since the company began patrolling.

“A lot of local businesses recognise us, they call us for help, we’ve built relationships over the years and they can trust and rely on us,” he said.

“We’re usually the first ones to incidents and then anything that we can’t handle will rely on the police to help out.”

Originally published as NT Election 2024: Labor pledges extra $1.4m for private security patrols