Territory police have received funding boosts for equipment to better protect the community. Photo: Northern Territory Government.
The Northern Territory Government is touting the success of its law-and-order-centric agenda, providing statistics backing up its anti-crime efforts.
From January to June this year, the “number of victims” fell by 4.7 per cent compared with the same period in the previous year. Putting the issue in human terms, the government said this meant 605 fewer individuals had been affected by crime in the Territory.
In the first half of the year, home break-ins decreased by 375 and property offences were down by 503. The changes are having an impact across the Territory, with Darwin and Palmerston seeing a 37 per cent drop in break-ins and Alice Springs experiencing a decrease of 33 per cent. In Katherine, commercial break-ins were down 36 per cent.
“Our plan to reduce crime is working, but my team and I know there is much more work to do, and we are getting on with the job,” Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said.
“We will continue to work with police, courts and corrections to deliver stronger laws and enforcement, better victim support, and faster justice. Community safety will always come first under our CLP government.”
The government said it wanted to tackle the causes of crime to reduce the rates of domestic and sexual violence, making the issue a priority target. One such policy, the FSV Prevention and Response Roadmap, will invest in community safety.
“As we enter our second year of government, our focus is clear – get more kids to school, hold parents accountable, and create productive pathways for young people,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
”Addressing these drivers is critical to reducing crime and building safer communities.
“Under Labor, police were left to clean up the mess of failed social policies, arresting the same offenders night after night. Crime spiralled, communities suffered, and offenders knew there were no consequences.”
In a further effort to drive down crime, the government has also introduced 146 new police officers to the force since August last year.
