The NT police union has questioned whether Alice Springs has the resources to support 32 extra police starting intensive training there this month.
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Chief Minister Michael Gunner yesterday announced officers were now in Alice Springs undertaking an accelerated training program to prepare them for policing in Central Australia.
Northern Territory Police Association acting president Col Goodsell said the officers had not been ‘fast-tracked to start work’.
“They underwent the same recruitment process and are still required to complete their 11 weeks of training,” Mr Goodsell said.
“The 11-week course doesn’t commence until the 29th of January so it’s unlikely they are ‘all’ in Alice Springs and they are certainly not already ‘undertaking the training program’.
Mr Goodsell also pulled the government into line for taking political credit for the police program.
“We are also a little confused about the language used by the Gunner Government in this announcement.
“It’s not the Territory Labor Government’s Accelerated Recruit Program (ARP) – it’s the NT police force’s.
“ARP squads ran under the former CLP Government as well,” said Mr Goodsell.
Mr Goodsell said the union was happy to see an increase in police numbers, they were concerned Alice Springs did not have “the appropriate resources and facilities to host a course of this size, particularly for driver training, defensive tactics and firearms qualifications”.
The NTPA has also called for a joint approach to look at the attraction and retention of police in the bush.
“The unprecedented number of vacancies at bush stations is not an issue the government can simply recruit its way out of.
“The NTPA, Police Executive and government need to examine ways to attract and retain police to regional and remote postings,” Mr Goodsell said.
The 32 officers are from across the country, and include 16 from New Zealand Police. The break-up is:
16 x New Zealand Police
5 x Victoria Police
3 x Queensland Police
5 x ex-Northern Territory Police being reappointed
3 x from NSW, WA and the AFP. (1 x from each)
“The Government has listened to the community and taken action to boost our police force, giving them the resources they need to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and keep the community safe,” Mr Gunner said.
“Since coming to office we have invested millions boosting the resources of our police force including bringing back the BDR to stop the supply of alcohol to problem drinkers, and investing $45 million towards upgrading the core policing system, Promis.”
