The graduating squad is the last of the year. Photo: Lia Finocchiaro MLA, Facebook.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro recently congratulated the final Northern Territory Police Force graduating squad of the year, welcoming the recruits into the ranks.
After 32 weeks of training, 28 recruits graduated from the program, bringing the year’s total to 201 constables, 41 auxilaries and 18 Aboriginal Liaison Officers.
The graduation ceremony, attended by the Chief Minister, marked a strong year of recruitment for the Territory’s police force.
Ms Finocchiaro spoke to graduates about changes made to the Territory since taking office.
“As part of our year of action, certainty and security, we’ve introduced stronger laws, stronger support, and the strongest police pay agreement in two decades,” she said.
”And this commitment is reflected in the record $1.5 billion budget for community safety, including a record $608 million for police.”
More than half of the graduates will be posted to Central Australia in expectation of what the government has labelled “a period of heightened antisocial behaviour” over the summer.
Other newly minted officers will be posted to Katherine, Tennant Creek and the capital, Darwin.
Reforms and investments introduced this year to the Territory’s policing system include:
- Removal of detention as a last resort for youth offenders.
- Introduction of the strongest bail laws in the nation.
- Reinstatement of breach of bail as an offence.
- A range of new offences targeting online boasting of criminal behaviour.
- Expanded police powers of entry to search for parolees or DV offenders.
- Expanded police wanding powers to reduce crimes committed with knives.
- Stronger tools of enforcement and empowering courts to give heavier penalties to keep Territorians safe on the roads.
- Introduction of the rank of Public Protection Support Officer.
- Appointment of Martin Dole APM as Police Commissioner.
- Action to extend Banned Drinker Order periods from a week to 28 days.
The Chief Minister thanked the new recruits and their loved ones ahead of the Christmas season.
“Many of these recruits will spend the holiday period on duty, in some cases, their first Christmas away from loved ones,” she said.
”I want to sincerely thank them, and all emergency responders, for their service in keeping our community safe over the festive season.”
