Northern Territory Police to Hire 200 New Officers in Response to Youth Violence
The Northern Territory (NT) is set to receive a boost of 200 additional police officers to address youth crime in response to escalating regional disorder. Currently, the NT Police force consists of 1,642 officers, with the targeted increase bringing the total to 1,842 over the next four years.
NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler stated, “Reducing crime is my top priority, and we will work tirelessly to improve community safety across the Territory.”
Youth crime in NT is influenced by socioeconomic disadvantage, substance abuse, family dysfunction, and historical and cultural factors, particularly affecting Indigenous youth who are disproportionately represented in the justice system.
Efforts to address youth crime include early intervention and diversionary programs, as well as community engagement initiatives. However, challenges persist in addressing the underlying causes of youth crime, with violent offenses by 12- to 17-year-olds reaching the highest level since 2016.
The decision to increase police numbers coincides with a curfew implemented on March 29 in Alice Springs, prohibiting all children under 18 from the CBD at night, except for those with a legitimate reason, for the next two weeks.
The curfew was imposed to address civil unrest and combat a concentrated crime wave affecting the town. A violent incident involving 70 youths at the Todd Tavern was triggered by a memorial service for a teenager who died in a traffic incident on March 8.
Despite challenges to the curfew’s legality, Commissioner Murphy remains committed to increasing police presence and visibility in the town to address the situation.
Recruitment Drive Planned
Recruiting experienced police staff in NT has been a challenge, with an accelerated recruitment program targeting officers familiar with the demands of the job. Recruitment efforts also extend to other regions in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, offering relocation assistance and competitive salaries.
Ms. Lawler emphasized a $200 million investment to support recruitment efforts, with a new drive set to begin after the upcoming budget announcement in May.
Police Minister Brent Potter expressed the necessity of additional officers, stating, “We support our dedicated police officers and are committed to ensuring more officers are actively patrolling our streets.”
