Building Our Police Force

In 2003 the Territory Government undertook a review of police resources.
This review, conducted by former Queensland Police Commissioner Jim O’Sullivan and former senior Queensland Public Servant Peter Forster showed that police numbers were depleted and more were needed to tackle crime.
Since that report the Territory Government has increased the Northern Territory Police numbers from 903 in June 2003 to 1284 in February 2010 an increase of 381.

The Territory Government is continuing to invest in record budgets for police and the Territory now has twice as many police, per head of population, than other jurisdictions in Australia.
In addition the Government increased police budgets.
Since 2001 the Police, Fire and Emergency budget has gone from $136.8 million to $296.7 million in 2009-10.
Today the Territory Police is a well resourced and highly performing organisation.This increase in resources has delivered results for Territorians.
These results include:

  • A reduction in property crime
  • More police on the streets
  • Police Beats in urban shopping centres
  • A confident community increasing our reporting of crime
  • One of the best clear up rates in Australia

The Territory Government is continuing to invest in record budgets for police and the Territory now has twice as many police per head of population than other jurisdictions in Australia.

The Government has also invested in:

  • Improved police equipment
  • Better wages and conditions for members of the NT Police
  • Stronger laws that give the police the legal tools to tackle crime.

For more information on Northern Territory Police, go to: http://www.nt.gov.au/pfes

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