The Northern Territory Government is today announcing the creation of a brand new NT Police division dedicated to high visibility policing and social order response and enforcement.
The Territory Safety Division (TSD) is being established immediately – with 10 officers already part of the TSD in Darwin, and more than 50 to be part of the Division following further recruitment.
Based at the Nightcliff Police Station, the TSD will focus on high visibility policing in the Greater Darwin region. It will focus on rapid response to alcohol-related offending, anti-social behaviour, and social order. The division will also help ensure the safety of Territorians during critical incident responses, public order or crowd management for large gatherings or events.
The TSD will also be used as a surge response across the Northern Territory, especially in alcohol policing in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and remote communities – depending on the specific circumstances and intelligence-led operations. This is on top of the 50 rostered Police Officers who are part of Operation Drina, in Alice Springs.
The TSD will make a big difference in detecting secondary supply of alcohol, public drinking and anti-social behaviour, bail breaches, and problem behaviours around take-away liquor outlets.
TSD positions will be filled as recruitment and training activities are completed, which will allow for experienced officers to join the unit.
So far this year, the Police frontline has been boosted with 107 new constables and 68 new auxiliaries. There are currently 85 recruit constables undergoing training to graduate in 2024.
In 2023 we have strengthened bail laws, given Police more powers to stop and search, introduced wanding, strengthened the BDR, and recruited more police.
The Territory Government will continue to listen to community concerns about crime and safety, and will keep working hard to make the Territory a safer place for all.
Quotes attributed to Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles:
“Territorians have asked us for change, and we are making changes. They have asked us to do more, and we are doing more. They are saying loud and clear they want the Territory to be a safer place for all, and that’s exactly what I want too.
“The Territory Safety Division has come from the conversations my new Police Minister has had with Police leadership, frontline officers and community members.
“They’ll be fully focussed on fighting back against harmful public drinking and other bad behaviour that comes from alcohol abuse.
“They will be patrolling high-traffic areas of our community, preventing anti-social behaviour and arresting those who break our laws.
“We will never stop working to make the Territory a safer place for everyone.”
Quotes attributed to the Minister for Police, Brent Potter:
“We have acted in direct response to the request from the frontline, for a unit specifically targeting Social Order, Bail Compliance and Alcohol Offences.
“All Territorians deserve to feel safe and as Police Minister I will continue to listen to our frontline police to ensure they have the resources they need to carry out their duties.
“This new policing will be out on the beat in full force. They will be making sure bail conditions are being met and that alcohol harm is not occurring. Bail is not a right it is a privilege, the TSD officers will be conducting bail compliance operations, to ensure that those breaching their bail are caught.
“This another measure we are taking to make sure the community is safe – because this is what Territorians deserve.”
Northern Territory Government
