NT police have seized and tipped out enough contraband alcohol to fill the fuel tanks of more than 280 family cars over the past year.
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Police have seized and destroyed 17,000 litres of alcohol in the last year and issued 1035 infringement notices.
There are big profits made by criminals who buy large amounts of alcohol, apparently legally, and then try and sell it in remote "dry" communities for exorbitant prices.
NT Police are compelled to destroy their huge hauls of alcohol.
The big total was revealed as the NT Government today announced Katherine will receive its full complement of 22 liquor inspectors over the next few weeks.
The final squad of Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors will march out today after finishing their 13-week training program.
The NT Government has completed recruitment of 75 liquor inspectors as part of its plan to tackle alcohol fuelled crime and violence.
Katherine received its first 10 liquor inspectors at the start of the year.
The plan - which was announced in March 2018 - consists of additional resources for NT Police including 75 PALIs, 12 police officers to target secondary supply, three prosecutors (to focus on license breach prosecutions), 10 additional mobile CCTV cameras and changes to legislation to give police stronger powers.
All measures have now been implemented, with the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Nicole Manison today meeting the last squad of PALIs who have just begun their 13-week training program.
They will be on the beat in August this year.
The government says since being in place there has been a 28.6 per cent decrease in alcohol-related hospital admissions in Katherine and even greater reductions in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
Since October last year the 12 officers dedicated to tackling secondary supply have achieved:
- 5 Breaches of the Liquor Act proven and finalised - 10 matters relating to the Liquor act ongoing;
- Several persons successfully prosecuted for secondary supply.
- Seized 13 motor vehicles that were used in transporting alcohol into Alcohol Protected Areas
- 38 Banned Drinker referrals, and 45 extensions issued for Banned Drinking Orders
Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Nicole Manison said: "Our plans are starting to work with assaults and alcohol-related hospital admission decreasing across the Territory. The results have been excellent.
"Alcohol abuse cost the Territory almost $1.4 billion a year and causes untold damage to thousands of people's lives. It affects every Territorian."
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