1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Now we do know that the COVID situation is ever 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: evolving and today of course is going to be critical 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: for the people of Central Australia and indeed the Barclay. 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 2: We'll find out a little bit later. 5 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: This afternoon if those lockdowns are going to end or 6 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,479 Speaker 1: be extended. But joining me in the studio is the 7 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker. 8 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 2: Good morning to you. Good morning, Commissioner. 9 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: I know it's been a very busy time and we 10 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: are expecting an update later today on that COVID situation. 11 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: But how are the officers going in Central Australia and 12 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: indeed the community of Ali Kurung and Tenant Creek. 13 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 3: At the moment, we've got in access to twenty police 14 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 3: officers on the ground now in Alicorn, plus our rapid 15 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 3: assessment team made up of health personnel and other government 16 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 3: employees and working with the local community there. But a 17 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 3: lot of tests have been obtained, so we're awaiting the 18 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 3: outcome of those results. We hope some will start coming 19 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 3: through this morning and some further on later today. So 20 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 3: we've got a meeting at midday which should consolidate all 21 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 3: the information in advance of making a determination on the 22 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 3: currency of the lockdowns for both Ali Krung and Tennant Creek, 23 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 3: which on current trend to due to close at five 24 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 3: pm today. 25 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 2: All right, so we'll keep a very close eye on that. 26 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: Have people largely been doing the right thing and being 27 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: compliant in those areas. 28 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 3: They have, They've been fantastic, truth be told. Encouragingly for 29 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 3: us at the moment, it looks like from the testing 30 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 3: we've seen so far, Tenant Creek hasn't had any remaining 31 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 3: positives in the community. We've got those that we know 32 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 3: have been positive in the hospital and the like, so 33 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 3: we've got pretty good line of sight there at the moment. 34 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 3: But again, we've got a raft of testing that occurred 35 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 3: yesterday that we really need to see to make sure 36 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 3: that we've got that covered. And similarly, we're awaiting the 37 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: outcome of the significant amount of testing that's been undertaken 38 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 3: in Ali Cron. 39 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,839 Speaker 1: So still a little bit early to say. If things 40 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: are looking good at this. 41 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 3: Point, it's encouraging. But as I say, the community of 42 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 3: Tenant Creek and Ali Kron can be very assured that 43 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 3: we're trying to make the most informed, balanced position, and 44 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 3: we are critically aware that Christmas is looming, and our 45 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 3: further and intent is to try and make sure that 46 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 3: Christmas is an enjoyable day for them. But we certainly 47 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 3: don't want to pose any greater risk for people unfortunately 48 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 3: because of the low vaccination rates that are there. 49 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, so being cautious, I suppose, which I think we 50 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 2: all need to be now. 51 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: Earlier this week we did see more people have scorne 52 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: from the Howard Springs quarantine facility. I know that you've 53 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: previously said that it's not a jail, but we do 54 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: know that some people seem to be struggling to be 55 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: in there as we see COVID in the communities and 56 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: indeed in various locations around the NT sort. 57 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: Of move around. 58 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: Do we need to rethink the way that we are 59 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: doing quarantine, Well, I. 60 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 3: Think we already have. That's obviously part of the approach 61 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 3: we've taken towards December twenty. But there's a point of 62 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 3: difference here. A lot of those people in recent times 63 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 3: that have been absconding have been people who are there 64 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 3: as close contacts, and as I've indicated before, have come 65 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 3: from a community and a lifestyle of being significantly overcrowded 66 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 3: to being placed in a little studio apartment for what 67 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 3: a better description, and that can be pretty lonely when 68 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 3: you're used to the cacophony of life all around you. 69 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 3: Got out on Sunday, young girls, they're in their middle teens. 70 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 3: One of them was actually due to have their birthday 71 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 3: the next day. We wrap them up relatively quickly. And 72 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 3: as I say, I think the fact of the matter 73 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 3: is we've had in excess to thirty seven thousand people 74 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 3: through that facility since we kicked it off more at 75 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 3: full time and around June of twenty twenty. That's an 76 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 3: exceptional number, and the compliance really is exceptional. Every hotel 77 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 3: quarantine arrangement had previously had people who were less compliant. 78 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 3: We've been fairly fortunate that when they have headed off, 79 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 3: we've rounded them up relatively quickly. 80 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: Now I know that as the borders opened earlier this week, 81 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: obviously we saw some changes to testing and the need 82 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: for those who have arrived but not yet received proof 83 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: of a negative test result to quarantine at home. Is 84 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: this something that the police have had to then check 85 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: compliance on. 86 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 3: We do ad our road border checkpoints, and obviously we've 87 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 3: got our arrival teams that we've had established from across 88 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 3: government at the airports. The truth of it is most 89 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 3: jurisdictions are currently under some pressure as it relates to 90 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 3: their testing regimes. That pre seventy to our test is 91 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 3: one that we implemented to have the flights we established 92 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 3: from India. If you recall back in that early period 93 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 3: where the flights from India were having a bit of 94 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 3: a spate of COVID spread, we found that that pre 95 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 3: seventy to our negative test was quite a mitigation for 96 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 3: the risk of COVID entering the territory. 97 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: And so again on those boarders of people being largely compliant, 98 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: are they doing the right thing? They are? 99 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 3: Look, I think hopefully you saw some of the scenes 100 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: of the first flights that arrived on Monday. You know, 101 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 3: people were very, very overwhelmed by the fact they were 102 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 3: able to see loved ones they haven't seen for a 103 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 3: long period of time. I think this time of the year, 104 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 3: everyone is quite keen to get out and about the 105 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 3: compliance again for the whole of the Northern territory. Really, 106 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 3: with the numbers we've dealt with, the number of people 107 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 3: who they moved around and caught up as close contacts 108 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 3: has been nothing short of exceptional. 109 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was pretty emotional actually to see some of 110 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: those families reunite after what's been a really long period 111 00:04:58,600 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: for a. 112 00:04:58,800 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 2: Lot of people. 113 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: And I know that it has been a tough time, 114 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: you know, for so many There's no doubt it's been 115 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: a tough time for our Northern Territory Police in terms 116 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: of the way that the job I think has evolved 117 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years. You know, there's always 118 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: the fighting crime and trying to reduce domestic violence and 119 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 1: crime rates, but then when you look at the fact 120 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: that there's had to be that real management of COVID, 121 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: it's changed the way that policing happens in the territory. 122 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. 123 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 3: I think from an external perspective that's probably right, But 124 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 3: the truth of it is, being a police officer, we're 125 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 3: far more than just law enforcement. 126 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: You know. 127 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 3: Community engagement is a significant part of what we do 128 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 3: and we see that through our bush policing experiences for 129 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 3: so so long. We've seen that through our school based 130 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,679 Speaker 3: policing models. We've seen that through our community liaison work 131 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 3: that we do. So you know, for us to read 132 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 3: much rather spend more time in community engagement and seeing 133 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 3: people and helping and supporting people, serving and protecting, rather 134 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 3: than having to go and deal with the harnous impacts 135 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 3: of family and domestic violence, of going and consulting victims 136 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 3: whose home has been by an intruder. All of those 137 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 3: things we know have very, very detrimentally impacts, and that's 138 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,559 Speaker 3: why we continue to work so hard across the board. 139 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: Now, one of the things I do want to ask 140 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: you about is we obviously saw those protests around the 141 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: vaccine mandate now on November sixth, I believe it was 142 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: the officers in the firing line, well, they had unknown 143 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: substances thrown at them by those protesters. Has there been 144 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: an update in terms of what that substance was? 145 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 3: Reports being provided to the prosecution, and that'll form part 146 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 3: of the prosecution breath. 147 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: Okay, So not something that we can make public at 148 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 1: this point. Now, what about in terms of injuries, Were 149 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: any of those officers injured and are they all okay? 150 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 3: At the point of time, as I spoke about it 151 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 3: earlier on their advice that was fed to me was 152 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 3: that they certainly felt a burning sensation that they needed 153 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 3: to take remedial action, particularly in washing down and hosing down. 154 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 3: What the substance was. They had no idea what that 155 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 3: substance was, but felt an immediate impact from it, so 156 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 3: you know, we know that they had to take very 157 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 3: quick care to be able to remove whatever it was 158 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 3: from their skin. 159 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: I do want to move along. 160 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: I know that crimes continued to be an issue which 161 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: police have been. 162 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 2: Working hard to combat. 163 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: There's no doubt about that, from youth crime to break ins, 164 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: to alcohol fueled violence and the terrible rates of domestic 165 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: violence that we just touched on. When you talk about 166 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: those crime rates, how are things going in the Northern 167 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: Territory at this point? 168 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 3: Interestingly, I've just received a brief from Tenant Creek day 169 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 3: twenty four without the report of an unlawful entry in 170 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 3: Tenant Creek. That is an exceptional outcome. In Darwin, I've 171 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 3: just been briefed by the Assistant Commissioner this morning that 172 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 3: there's been no unlawful entries reported in the last two days. 173 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 3: So these are encouraging signs that we've got. Alice Springs 174 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 3: still had a handful today, as did Catherine and also 175 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,119 Speaker 3: some verur remote communities. So we know that property crime 176 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 3: is still occurring. But what we also know is that 177 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 3: our people are very active in this space. You're clearly 178 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 3: aware of Tried and Uper operating in Darwin and Alic 179 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 3: Springs respectively, but also the teams in Catherine and Tenant Creek. 180 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 3: I've got a stronger focus on property crime and to 181 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 3: this point in time it looks like things are encouraging, 182 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 3: but day by day we don't ever take our foot 183 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 3: off the shold as it relates to this. We want 184 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 3: to try and prevent crime wherever we can. A lot 185 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 3: of people are going to get be going away for Christmas, 186 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 3: so please secure your premises, have a chat to your neighbors, 187 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 3: get someone to keep an eye on your house for you, 188 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 3: help us to help you well. 189 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 2: And I know it is so difficult. 190 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: I mean I have just seen obviously a press release 191 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: that's come out a short time ago, and we covered 192 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: this in the local news a little while ago Alice Springs. 193 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: Yesterday AVO about. 194 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: Three point thirty police received a report that a fifty 195 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: three year old had been robbed as he walked along 196 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: Madigan Street in Braitlan. I know, like you've said, there 197 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: has been so much work done by the police to 198 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: try and combat these kinds of things, but it will 199 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: be cold comfort to some out listening this morning, what 200 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: will you say to some of our territorianes that are 201 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: listening this morning, that are just hoping that come twenty 202 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: twenty two things are better when it comes to some 203 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: of that crime that we say, Well, what we. 204 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 3: Certainly anticipate is a reduction in the amount of alcohol 205 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 3: that will be freely available and the types of commodity 206 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 3: of alcohol that's out there. We saw a very detrimental 207 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 3: impact of that over the COVID journey associated to the 208 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 3: additional payments that we're in play. We're trying to make 209 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 3: sure that we have as much of a focus as 210 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 3: we possibly can on the point of sale to ensure 211 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 3: those on the band drinker register are getting access to alcohol. 212 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 3: But of course the community has to come on that 213 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 3: journey with us, and what we see continually is that 214 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 3: secondary supply is something that does link to causation of problems, 215 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 3: and particularly when we see alcohol making its way out 216 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 3: into remote communities and the devastating effect that has. But 217 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 3: I think the encouraging thing for everyone to know is 218 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 3: we've got a squad that we graduated recently. I'm graduating 219 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 3: another squad tomorrow evening, all in advance of surging particularly 220 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 3: down into our Springs and our regional places, but also 221 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 3: some additional support into our daw and police stations over 222 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 3: the new year and into January, so that we've got 223 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 3: extra boots on the ground actively out there trying to 224 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 3: make sure that the start to twenty twenty two is 225 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 3: a very encouraging one. 226 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: Now, when you touched on alcohol just a moment ago, 227 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 1: and some of the issues that we see obviously around 228 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,559 Speaker 1: secondary supply. I know Top Springs Hotel they got in 229 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: contact with us earlier in the week they'd been broken into. 230 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: They believe about ten thousand dollars worth of alcohol stolen. 231 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: How big a concern. 232 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: Is that alcohol theft, but also you know the misuse 233 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: of alcohol within our community having on us in the territory. 234 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 3: Well, I think what it points to is a heavy 235 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 3: reliance on alcohol. It's clearly a commodity of choice. It's 236 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 3: clearly a commodity that people are prepared to break the 237 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 3: law to get access to. Now that's something that is 238 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 3: linked to a clear related health issues that relates to 239 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,079 Speaker 3: the reliance on alcohol. We know that there is alcoholism 240 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 3: well and truly prominent, particularly unfortunately amongst Aboriginal people, and 241 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 3: we deal with that each and every day. Unfortunately, our 242 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,719 Speaker 3: protective custody statistics are so overrepresented as it relates to 243 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,719 Speaker 3: average people that that is clearly a line of sight 244 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 3: that we are trying to focus on. Hence the reason 245 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 3: we have pintos sale controls in place across our regional locatelyies, 246 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 3: and hence the reason we work so closely with all 247 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 3: publicans and also the Licensing Commission to try and make 248 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 3: sure that the use of alcohol is what it's intended 249 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 3: to be, a social outbreak, not drinking to the point 250 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 3: of devastation and destruction within your family. 251 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: Now, when we talk about those police staffing levels, how 252 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 1: are they looking at the moment and coming into the 253 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: new year. I know you said that there is going 254 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: to be another squad graduating, but there has been a 255 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: lot of concerns raised in recent months that some of 256 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: our experienced officers are leaving and they're being replaced by, 257 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: you know, those that are just graduating. 258 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 2: How are we. 259 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: Looking for twenty twenty two in terms of that loss 260 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,359 Speaker 1: of experience, but obviously the gain of those new constables. 261 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 3: Again, I think there's a bit of an urban myth 262 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 3: out there about this loss of experience that we've had 263 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 3: a look at the numbers. The large group of people 264 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 3: that have been leaving really between the two to seven 265 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 3: year period of time servos and that's not an uncommon trend. 266 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 3: We average most people around policing to do about seven 267 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 3: plus years. Interestingly, our ten to twenty year cadre and 268 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 3: beyond are not ones who are leaving en mass. And 269 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 3: I think the general sense that we've got is that 270 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 3: these new recruits that we've been bringing in have hit 271 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 3: the ground with a high level of enthusiasm, passion. They're 272 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 3: not the ones who are attracting our complaints against police. 273 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,239 Speaker 3: They're not getting complaints made against them for rudeness or inaction. Unfortunately, 274 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 3: that's linked to some of the category that people might 275 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 3: describe as our experience police. A number of our poliefs 276 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 3: who have moved on have gone on for bona fide, 277 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 3: legitimate reasons to head back and see family. And COVID 278 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 3: has been a pandemic that's impacted the world and change 279 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 3: people's views. But look at what's happening out there. Police 280 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 3: officers are putting their hands up to rush to Ali Kurung, 281 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 3: to rush to Tenant Creek, to provide frontline services to 282 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,719 Speaker 3: those communities. They did that to Robinson River, they did 283 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 3: it to Binjari, they did it to cal Kringi, darg Ragu, 284 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 3: Timber Creek. That doesn't give me much concern that we're 285 00:12:57,960 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 3: an agency that's gone the wrong way. In fact, what 286 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 3: it does is fill me with pride about the passion 287 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 3: how people have to serve and protect their home. 288 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 2: What would you say have been the biggest challenges this year. 289 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 3: Oh, there's been plenty, Clearly the changing landscape of COVID, 290 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 3: and I think everyone's seen that the adaptive ability to 291 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 3: be able to react and set some level of balance 292 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 3: in what's been in place. I think in November alone, 293 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 3: we had fifty one Chief Health Officer directions that the 294 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 3: Emergency Operations Center then had to put into practice and 295 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 3: realize a transition on the ground. We've now moved into 296 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 3: the twenty December posture and allowed families to be back 297 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 3: home for Christmas and also allowed territories to be able 298 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 3: to go and travel knowing that they can come back 299 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 3: home and not have to go into quarantine when they 300 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 3: return from seeing loved ones into state. It's been an 301 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 3: exceptional achievement. It's had a lot of bumps in the 302 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 3: road all the while, all the way back to the 303 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 3: start of the year, we were dealing with floods through Jimp, 304 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 3: Lincoln and Day River. We've been dealing with bushfires again 305 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 3: throughout the course of the year. We had to lock 306 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 3: down down and if you recall and Territory Day was 307 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 3: jeopardized and deferred into the peak of a fairly busy period. 308 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 3: So we're a lot more planning focused on trying to 309 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 3: make sure that our fiers we're able to get through 310 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 3: that evening as well as bushfires. Nt just a superb 311 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 3: effort by our people across the board. I just can't 312 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 3: speak highly enough of their contribution. 313 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 2: Well, and you know, on behalf of the whole community. 314 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: I think that I would like to thank the Northern 315 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: Territory Police Force for the enormous amount of work that 316 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: they do. You know, very often we are speaking to 317 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: your officers on this show. They're providing information on a 318 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: lot of different issues that happen around the place. And 319 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: you know, time and time again we hear on the 320 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: phone lines as well, even from people who are impacted 321 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: by crime. You know, they're upset that they've been impacted 322 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: by crime, but they're incredibly grateful for the work that 323 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: the police do on the ground to try to make 324 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: sure that they're you know, that they're able to help 325 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: them and able to apprehend those offenders. So a big 326 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: thank you to the Northern Territory Police for the wonderful 327 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: work that all of your officers and yourself do. I 328 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: know it's been a really tough couple of. 329 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 3: Years, it has, and thanks for that. As I say, 330 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 3: I can't give enough superlatives to their efforts collectively. We've 331 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 3: got significant good people out there making a difference each 332 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 3: and every day, and it's a privilege for us to 333 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 3: do what we do. We're in the fortunate position that 334 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 3: we get to serve and protect not only our loved ones, 335 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 3: our family, but the broad and Norn Territory community. 336 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: Well, Northern Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker, we really appreciate 337 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: your time. 338 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 2: Hope you have a lovely Christmas with your family. 339 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: We'll see how we go. 340 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 2: Thank you.