Skip to main content

Delivering on our promise – 120 additional Police Officers

Office of the Chief Minister

The Territory Labor Government is closing in on its election promise of 120 additional police officers this term, with a new recruit squad being sworn in this week.

The former CLP government promised 120 more police in 2012 but over their four years of chaos they failed to reach that target.

Recruit constable squad 136 will comprise of 60 constables who will undertake training for the next 30 weeks. If on the beat today, there would be an extra 136 police employed under this government – and an additional 73 Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors.

They will further enhance the great work police are doing – including achieving 10-year lows in assaults Territory wide and 3 to 5-year lows for property offences in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs**.

Additional Auxiliary and Aboriginal Community Police Officer squads are also scheduled to begin training this year.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner:

“When we came to Government we said we wanted the police college to run at full capacity – it has done just that.

“We have now delivered more than 80 of our promised 120 additional police officers, plus an additional 73 of the promised 75 Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors. We will reach our 120 target.

“We are making good on the broken promise of the CLP Government, who promised more police but failed to deliver and who also cut school-based policing.”

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Nicole Manison:

“Not only are we putting 120 additional police on the beat, we are ensuring they also have the best resources possible to do the tough job they have.

“This includes new police stations in Palmerston, Nightcliff, Maningrida and Ngukurr. An additional 400 CCTV cameras, stronger powers to tackle alcohol related crime, and a $45 million upgrade to their IT system.”

Media Contact – Hannah Farmer – 0428 497 154

**August 2019 Crime stats:

Darwin commercial break-ins at a 4 year low

Palmerston house break-ins at a 3 year low

Palmerston commercial break-ins at a 5 year low

Alice Springs commercial break-ins at a 4 year low

Katherine house break-ins at a 3 year low.


--> --> --> --> --> -->