The Territory Labor Government has completed recruitment of 75 Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors (PALIs) as part of its comprehensive plan to tackle alcohol fuelled crime and violence.

The plan - which was announced in March 2018 - consists of additional resources for NT Police including 75 PALIs, 12 police officers to target secondary supply, three prosecutors (to focus on license breach prosecutions), 10 additional mobile CCTV cameras and changes to legislation to give our police stronger powers.

All measures have now been implemented, with the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Nicole Manison today meeting the last squad of PALIs who have just begun their 13-week training program.

They will be on the beat in August this year.

The PALIs are achieving excellent results. Since being in place in Alice Springs, total assaults decreased 34%, offences against the person decreased 33%, domestic violence decreased 32% and alcohol-related assaults decreased 47%.

We have also seen decreases in alcohol-related hospital admissions with, a 39.2% reduction in Alice Springs, 28.6% reduction in Katherine and a 50% reduction in Tennant Creek.  

We are also seeing fantastic results from our 12 officers dedicated to tackling secondary supply, since October 2018 they have achieved:

o   5 Breaches of the Liquor Act proven and finalised - 10 matters relating to the Liquor act ongoing;

o   Several persons successfully prosecuted for secondary supply.

o   Seized 13 motor vehicles that were used in transporting alcohol into Alcohol Protected Areas

o   38 Banned Drinker referrals, and 45 extensions issued for Banned Drinking Orders

Separately to this, Police in Darwin have seized and destroyed 17,000 Litres of alcohol in the last 12 months, and issued 1,035 infringement notices.

Quotes from Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Nicole Manison:

“The Territory Labor Government is tackling alcohol-fuelled crime and violence.

“Our plans are starting to work with assaults and alcohol-related hospital admission decreasing across the Territory. The results have been excellent.

“Our efforts are in stark contrast to the CLP who scrapped the Banned Drinker Register and promised to recruit 120 more officers but failed.

“Alcohol abuse cost the Territory almost $1.4 billion a year and causes untold damage to thousands of people’s lives. It affects every Territorian.”

Media Contact – Hannah Farmer – 0428 497 154