1
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,160
Speaker 1: Please to say. Joining me in the studio is the

2
00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:06,680
Speaker 1: Acting Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole. Good morning to you.

3
00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:08,920
Speaker 1: Good morning, Katie, Thanks so much for your time this

4
00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,440
Speaker 1: morning now, Acting Commissioner. First off, how are things going

5
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:14,760
Speaker 1: acting in the role? Do you feel as though the

6
00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,640
Speaker 1: force is running quite smoothly since stepping in?

7
00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,640
Speaker 2: Yeah, Katie, We've got probably the best police force in Australia.

8
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:23,439
Speaker 2: So the guys and girls that are out there on

9
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,360
Speaker 2: the front line delivering to the public every day are

10
00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,760
Speaker 2: committed to doing their job to serve and protect the public.

11
00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,280
Speaker 2: And I've got the fortunate job of currently being the

12
00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,320
Speaker 2: Acting Commissioner and leading that incredible response for the people

13
00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,479
Speaker 2: that are dedicated to protecting the territory.

14
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,120
Speaker 1: I know. Obviously last month the Northern Territory Government announced

15
00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:46,280
Speaker 1: an independent inquiry into recent senior police recruitments. That inquiry

16
00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,120
Speaker 1: is being facilitated through the Office of the Commissioner for

17
00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:53,240
Speaker 1: Public Employment and lead by the Honorable Acting Justice Alan

18
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,440
Speaker 1: blow Ao. Do you feel as though this is a

19
00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,760
Speaker 1: good move in terms of providing certainty to the.

20
00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:05,000
Speaker 2: Full Yeah, well, Katie, the public need to have confidence

21
00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,680
Speaker 2: in their police force. They need to have confidence in

22
00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,120
Speaker 2: the leadership of their police force, and the police force

23
00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,120
Speaker 2: needs to have confidence in their leadership as well. So

24
00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,640
Speaker 2: we welcome the inquiry. We're participating fully and we've had

25
00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,000
Speaker 2: correspondence already with Acting Justice blow and our books are open.

26
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,759
Speaker 2: He can come in and review all of the circumstances

27
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,800
Speaker 2: around those recruitments. There's twenty eight senior positions in the

28
00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,800
Speaker 2: police force that are affected by this review, but everyone's

29
00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:28,679
Speaker 2: just getting on with business and turning up to work.

30
00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,480
Speaker 1: Are you concerned that there could be anybody in roles

31
00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:35,600
Speaker 1: that aren't there based on merit.

32
00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,680
Speaker 2: No, I'm not concerned about that at all, Katie.

33
00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,880
Speaker 1: So despite you know, despite what has happened, and despite

34
00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,280
Speaker 1: the former Commissioner Michael Murphy standing down, you don't feel

35
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:46,440
Speaker 1: as though it's an issue.

36
00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,480
Speaker 2: I don't feel it's an issue. The government has announced

37
00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,640
Speaker 2: the review, there's some independence in that review and I

38
00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,920
Speaker 2: hope that that's completed and the public can continue to

39
00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,720
Speaker 2: have faith in the leadership and the Northern Territory Police

40
00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:58,400
Speaker 2: Force as a whole.

41
00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,200
Speaker 1: What impact do you think that this has all had

42
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,960
Speaker 1: on the Northern Territory Police Force. I mean in terms

43
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,080
Speaker 1: of the rank and file, those out there doing their

44
00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,320
Speaker 1: job every day, and also those more senior police officers,

45
00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,040
Speaker 1: even yourself. I mean, has it had the impact that

46
00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,360
Speaker 1: maybe outsiders looking in think that it has or is

47
00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,079
Speaker 1: it business as usual for you guys.

48
00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,600
Speaker 2: Look, there's no doubt that it obviously has some impact, Katie,

49
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,959
Speaker 2: But we've had a tumultuous decade in policing and leadership

50
00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,160
Speaker 2: in policing in the Norn Territory, and what I can

51
00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,880
Speaker 2: say is the resolve does not change. Our people are

52
00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,040
Speaker 2: out there protecting the public. They're turning up to work

53
00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,320
Speaker 2: every day, they're locking up offenders, they're doing all of

54
00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,600
Speaker 2: their operations, and it hasn't affected it hasn't affected the

55
00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,639
Speaker 2: service delivery of the Norn Territory Police Force. So I

56
00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,720
Speaker 2: want to assure the community we're still out there serving

57
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,480
Speaker 2: and protecting as we should be doing.

58
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,280
Speaker 1: Acting Commissioner, it's been a tumultuous time, as you touched on,

59
00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,520
Speaker 1: I mean over the last ten years, but also for

60
00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,160
Speaker 1: our police commissioners. Are you going to put your hand

61
00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,480
Speaker 1: up to be the full time commissioner, Katie?

62
00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,400
Speaker 2: Look, that's not something that I'm considering at the moment.

63
00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,440
Speaker 2: There's a lot going on at the moment. Obviously there's

64
00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,680
Speaker 2: the review. I don't know when that recruitment process will

65
00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,640
Speaker 2: begin for the Commissioner. So at the moment that's not

66
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,280
Speaker 2: my focus. It's not something I'm thinking about working towards.

67
00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,280
Speaker 2: I'm just doing the job at the moment as the

68
00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,240
Speaker 2: acting Commissioner, making sure that our troops out there get

69
00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,280
Speaker 2: everything that they need and that they feel supported while

70
00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:24,000
Speaker 2: they're doing the job.

71
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,000
Speaker 1: All right, I do want to talk about that because

72
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,200
Speaker 1: there's been some you know, there has been a lot

73
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,120
Speaker 1: going on and a lot of operational issues I think

74
00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,200
Speaker 1: experiencing well at that operational level, I should say, there

75
00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,200
Speaker 1: does seem to be a high level of youth offending

76
00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:45,440
Speaker 1: at the moment, really in some cases some incredibly violent incidents.

77
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,200
Speaker 1: Now I'm conscious not to go into specifics, but one

78
00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,000
Speaker 1: of the incidents which horrified the Northern Territory community was

79
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,720
Speaker 1: the alleged time invasion and assault of Trevor in Palmerston,

80
00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:02,640
Speaker 1: now Acting Commissioner. This was an readably violent incident. Do

81
00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,000
Speaker 1: you believe that we are seeing an increased level of

82
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,800
Speaker 1: violent youth offending?

83
00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,920
Speaker 2: I don't think well as a whole Katie, yes, probably yes,

84
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,560
Speaker 2: And I agree with that positions, but I'd also agree

85
00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,919
Speaker 2: that that position is Australia wide. Everyone is suffering the

86
00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:24,480
Speaker 2: effects of youth crime, disengagement, disrespect for authority, whether that

87
00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,680
Speaker 2: be the police or school. So this is a problem

88
00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,000
Speaker 2: across all of the jurisdictions, and we're no different in

89
00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,039
Speaker 2: the Northern Territory. It impacts more here because we're such

90
00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,000
Speaker 2: a small jurisdiction. These stories are picked up as they

91
00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000
Speaker 2: should be in the public interest, and the public have

92
00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:43,960
Speaker 2: a strong interest in what's going on in the territory,

93
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,960
Speaker 2: so that in everyone's face, we're dealing with this problem

94
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,040
Speaker 2: every day. Has there been a spike in that youth offending.

95
00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,280
Speaker 2: I don't think so. I think it's consistently high as

96
00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,240
Speaker 2: it has been. But I suppose what concerns me and

97
00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,200
Speaker 2: what I've seen currently is some of the youth offenders

98
00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,760
Speaker 2: that we're seeing coming through that are committed these offenses

99
00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,440
Speaker 2: are youth that we haven't seen before. So it's not

100
00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,960
Speaker 2: all repeat offenders. It's not a continual cycle of people

101
00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,400
Speaker 2: in and out and no consequences we see. We're continuing

102
00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:14,000
Speaker 2: to see fresh offenders coming through that haven't got significant

103
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,520
Speaker 2: criminal histories or we haven't seen them engaging in this

104
00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,279
Speaker 2: type of conduct before. And that's concerning.

105
00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,200
Speaker 1: Yeah, that is concerning in the sense that then you've

106
00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,840
Speaker 1: got these you know, young kids coming up committing really

107
00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,680
Speaker 1: violent offenses in some cases. But then we also see

108
00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,960
Speaker 1: all too often that some of these young people, and

109
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,520
Speaker 1: I will say some and I'm not going into any specifics,

110
00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,880
Speaker 1: but some of these cases that you also see, you've

111
00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,360
Speaker 1: got young people that are on bail while they're committing

112
00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:40,560
Speaker 1: these terrible offenses.

113
00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,359
Speaker 2: Yeah, that is the case in some circumstances, Katie. But

114
00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,479
Speaker 2: obviously we've had a lot of strategies in the recent

115
00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,160
Speaker 2: months that we've tried to take those people out of circulation.

116
00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,520
Speaker 2: So with the strength and bail laws, we've got more

117
00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,680
Speaker 2: powers now to take those offenders into custody and keep

118
00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,280
Speaker 2: them in custody. So we've said the Fugitive Strikeforce, and

119
00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,960
Speaker 2: they've had incredible success since they were set up at

120
00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,800
Speaker 2: the Big in December last year, and they've been used

121
00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,240
Speaker 2: across the territory, so from Darwin to Alae Springs and

122
00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:13,360
Speaker 2: remotely as well. So and that's I suppose that's evidence

123
00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,760
Speaker 2: by the increase in numbers we see across the correctional

124
00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,040
Speaker 2: facilities across the Northern Territory as well, were at record

125
00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:19,920
Speaker 2: numbers in all of those facilities.

126
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,320
Speaker 1: Now, I know that the government's flag making some changes

127
00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,520
Speaker 1: though to the Youth Justice Act youths, you know, some

128
00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,080
Speaker 1: of those youths that are repeatedly getting bail. I mean,

129
00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,200
Speaker 1: are there changes that the police would like to see?

130
00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,440
Speaker 1: I know that, you know, I know it's always a

131
00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,080
Speaker 1: tricky line for the Northern Territory Police to be talking

132
00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,280
Speaker 1: about legislative changes. But are there changes that the police

133
00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:39,000
Speaker 1: do want to see?

134
00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,680
Speaker 2: Yeah, there is, Katie, and I probably can't go into

135
00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,480
Speaker 2: the specifics of that because there's still a working group

136
00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,280
Speaker 2: in relation to that legislation, but it has been flagged

137
00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:48,960
Speaker 2: by the government that will come up in one of

138
00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,920
Speaker 2: the next sittings, is the changes to the Youth Justice Act.

139
00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,719
Speaker 2: That review is currently underway and we're on that working group,

140
00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,480
Speaker 2: and the information that's being fit into that working group

141
00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,640
Speaker 2: is coming from the grassroots troops that are dealing with

142
00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,400
Speaker 2: this legislation every day and dealing with these offenders. So

143
00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,240
Speaker 2: it's about making sure that their job is more efficient

144
00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,279
Speaker 2: and that they've got the tools they've got to be

145
00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,960
Speaker 2: able to do their job and protect the public, all right.

146
00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:11,880
Speaker 1: So we'll wait and see exactly what comes out in

147
00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,920
Speaker 1: that space. I want to take a I want to

148
00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,000
Speaker 1: have a bit of a discussion about some of the

149
00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,320
Speaker 1: terrible offending we've actually seen towards the Northern Territory Police

150
00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,400
Speaker 1: as well, Like we've seen in recent weeks, recent months,

151
00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,320
Speaker 1: you know, cars being driven, stolen cars being driven at

152
00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,480
Speaker 1: Northern Territory Police, specifically in Alice Springs. As I understand

153
00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,080
Speaker 1: that there's been a couple of incidents. We had spoken

154
00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,120
Speaker 1: to the Northern Territory Police Association president about this and

155
00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,040
Speaker 1: he'd flagged the potential need for some changes when it

156
00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,200
Speaker 1: comes to the ways in which their operational you know,

157
00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,880
Speaker 1: like our officers are dealing with these stolen vehicles that

158
00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,239
Speaker 1: are driving at them, or that are driving around town

159
00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,280
Speaker 1: and putting other people at risk. Is that something that

160
00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,960
Speaker 1: you're looking at from an operational.

161
00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,360
Speaker 2: Perspective, Yeah, it is, Katie, and that's being looked at.

162
00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,480
Speaker 2: And I've had these conversations with Nathan. I do support

163
00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,640
Speaker 2: this stand. We're not at odds to this. Our troops

164
00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,480
Speaker 2: deserve everything that they've got in their toolkit and everything

165
00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,040
Speaker 2: that they can get and that we can give them

166
00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,400
Speaker 2: to make sure that their jobs safe and efficient. So

167
00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,280
Speaker 2: we are looking at further measures and policies to see

168
00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,000
Speaker 2: what we can do to give them some more tools

169
00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,640
Speaker 2: to help resolve some of these issues with stolen cars

170
00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,120
Speaker 2: and make sure that they're safe. But we also need

171
00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,080
Speaker 2: to consider public safety as well and safety of the offenders.

172
00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,280
Speaker 2: So there's a lot to consider in that policy position.

173
00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,920
Speaker 2: It's not as simple as clicking our fingers and drawing

174
00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,040
Speaker 2: something up that we can introduce overnight. There's a fair

175
00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:35,559
Speaker 2: bit to it that we have to consider, but that's

176
00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,160
Speaker 2: in process, and there's incredible work being done by the

177
00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,160
Speaker 2: Commander Southern in that space, and there's some changes that

178
00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,199
Speaker 2: he's proposed that we're looking at pushing.

179
00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,160
Speaker 1: Through what might some of those changes entail.

180
00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,360
Speaker 2: So I probably can't go into too much detail on

181
00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,079
Speaker 2: it until we signed it up. But it's about giving

182
00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:53,120
Speaker 2: our troops better options to resolve some of these incidents

183
00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,480
Speaker 2: involving stolen motor cars. So at the moment, we've got

184
00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,880
Speaker 2: several tactical options available to us, but it's increasing those

185
00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,640
Speaker 2: tactical options and giving them more ability to perform tasks

186
00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,760
Speaker 2: to safely prevent and stop these vehicles from continuing to offend,

187
00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:06,760
Speaker 2: so not just sort.

188
00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,640
Speaker 1: Of putting those tired deflation devices out.

189
00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,319
Speaker 2: Potentially that capability in certain things like that. So maybe

190
00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,040
Speaker 2: some other options of just the traditional tied deflation devices.

191
00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,880
Speaker 2: We've got looking at what's best practice across Australia and

192
00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,800
Speaker 2: what's some other options and more enhanced tired deflation devices

193
00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:27,120
Speaker 2: those type of things, and more policy in regards to

194
00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,920
Speaker 2: what we can do with motor vehicles in regards to

195
00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,320
Speaker 2: using our motor vehicles to stop other motive Yeah. Right,

196
00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,040
Speaker 2: So that's some of the stuff we need to look at,

197
00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,280
Speaker 2: but it's careful consideration that's also needed in regards to

198
00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:37,920
Speaker 2: those policies.

199
00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,240
Speaker 1: Yeah, so some of those defensive sort of actions that

200
00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,000
Speaker 1: you might be able to use, I suppose with the

201
00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,240
Speaker 1: police vehicle if there is a stolen vehicle without putting

202
00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:50,600
Speaker 1: officers or those you know, those alleged offenders at any kind.

203
00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,760
Speaker 2: Of risk and the public as well, Cadie. So the

204
00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,160
Speaker 2: consideration is always officer safety out safety of the public,

205
00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,760
Speaker 2: and then it's safety in safely apprehending the people that

206
00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,640
Speaker 2: are committing that crime. And list might say, but they're criminals,

207
00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:02,840
Speaker 2: what do we care about their safety?

208
00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,760
Speaker 1: Will we have to well, you absolutely have to.

209
00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,599
Speaker 2: We can't go put a car through a fence and

210
00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:08,559
Speaker 2: killing an innocent member of the public or putting the

211
00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,439
Speaker 2: police at further risk either. So yeah, there's a lot

212
00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,640
Speaker 2: of factors to consider, and that's what our people deal

213
00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,640
Speaker 2: with daily while they're dealing with this incidents and their

214
00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,200
Speaker 2: thought process while they're going through trying to resolve this situation. Yeah,

215
00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,160
Speaker 2: that's occurring daily across the North time.

216
00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,040
Speaker 1: It must be hard though, right, Like as a police

217
00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,320
Speaker 1: officer having to think of all those different scenarios when

218
00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:31,160
Speaker 1: you're literally, you know, dealing with offenders. You can see

219
00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:32,679
Speaker 1: them right in front of you and you're going, I

220
00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:34,760
Speaker 1: know that I can apprehend that person, but all these

221
00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,559
Speaker 1: other scenarios are running through your brain.

222
00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:38,880
Speaker 2: Yeah, And that's what our troops face every day. And

223
00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:40,880
Speaker 2: can I just shout out? And so they do an

224
00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,120
Speaker 2: incredible job. So they're twenty four hour presents out there

225
00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,199
Speaker 2: dealing with these incidents every day and doing an incredible job.

226
00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:48,960
Speaker 2: And I just thank the police force for the work

227
00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:50,880
Speaker 2: that they're doing at the moment across the community.

228
00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,440
Speaker 1: Well, Alice Springs, I know that there's been a number

229
00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,199
Speaker 1: of as we spoke about, there's been a cars stolen.

230
00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,880
Speaker 1: But we've also seen a terrible incident, a horrific sit

231
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:06,439
Speaker 1: situation where a tourist was assaulted last week unprovoked. I mean,

232
00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,880
Speaker 1: like what work it's I think it's a really difficult situation, right,

233
00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,600
Speaker 1: because how do you prevent an individual making a decision

234
00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,839
Speaker 1: allegedly to go and assault an innocent person. You know,

235
00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,760
Speaker 1: a police cannot be on every footpath stopping every single

236
00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,640
Speaker 1: person or trying to stop every single person. But how

237
00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,040
Speaker 1: are we in a situation where stuff like this continues

238
00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:28,520
Speaker 1: to happen?

239
00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,080
Speaker 2: And that's the hard question, Katie, And I think I

240
00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:32,800
Speaker 2: said that this morning, is that you're not going to

241
00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,480
Speaker 2: stop bad people doing bad stuff. You're always going to

242
00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,040
Speaker 2: have those that want to break the law or those

243
00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,680
Speaker 2: that have a blatant disregard from the law that go

244
00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,880
Speaker 2: out and commit crimes. But what I can assure the

245
00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,760
Speaker 2: public is we're doing everything we can when that occurs

246
00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,360
Speaker 2: to make sure we identify that offender and put them

247
00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,040
Speaker 2: out of circulation so they can't commit that again. But

248
00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,360
Speaker 2: that's not the sole and only answer. So whilst there's

249
00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,360
Speaker 2: strong enforcement action required, and that is happening, and that

250
00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,280
Speaker 2: will continue to happen, across the territory. There's also the

251
00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,360
Speaker 2: changes that are required for the drivers of that crime,

252
00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,080
Speaker 2: and that's what the cross government work that's occurring in

253
00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,840
Speaker 2: the background is happening. We're not just doing the drivers

254
00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,160
Speaker 2: of crime and stopping enforcement. We're having strong enforcement, but

255
00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,199
Speaker 2: we're trying to address the causes of that crime as well,

256
00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,280
Speaker 2: and we're working with the other agencies to try and

257
00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:18,600
Speaker 2: in that preventative space a bit more.

258
00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,920
Speaker 1: All Right, Another incident that's been raised with us by listeners. Well,

259
00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,920
Speaker 1: first off, there's one that Heidi Blacker has posted about

260
00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,120
Speaker 1: actually on social media. It's been sent to me by

261
00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,200
Speaker 1: a couple of listeners. Her husband was attacked by youth

262
00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,960
Speaker 1: in the CBD in Alice Springs after attempting to help

263
00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,680
Speaker 1: a business with a youth attempting to steal products. He

264
00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,120
Speaker 1: was hit in the head with a scooter, severing an

265
00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:46,080
Speaker 1: artery and almost bled out. Now he's been out of

266
00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,559
Speaker 1: hospital as I understand it, for two weeks. She says

267
00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,800
Speaker 1: that she's not being contacted by the police for an update.

268
00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:56,040
Speaker 1: There's been no call returned to her to make a statement.

269
00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,360
Speaker 1: Are you aware of this situation and how is that possible? Yeah?

270
00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,520
Speaker 2: O Katie. I am aware of that situation. Absolutely not

271
00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,240
Speaker 2: acceptable that somebody that can come to the aid of

272
00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,880
Speaker 2: a business is issaulted for trying to come to that aid. Look,

273
00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,600
Speaker 2: I'm aware of that situation. I know that our cruise

274
00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,800
Speaker 2: and Olie Springs are working on that. I am aware

275
00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,880
Speaker 2: that they've taken a statement off the victim in relation

276
00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,400
Speaker 2: to that, and they've made some contact with Miss Blacker

277
00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,800
Speaker 2: in relation to that. Now I can go away after

278
00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,760
Speaker 2: this session and make some more inquiries in relation to

279
00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,160
Speaker 2: that if she doesn't think that that has been acceptable.

280
00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,320
Speaker 2: But I do know that our troops and Olie Springs

281
00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:33,280
Speaker 2: are working on that matter.

282
00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:36,880
Speaker 1: It's just, I mean, it's a terrible situation when you

283
00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,840
Speaker 1: try to help, you know, like when you're trying to

284
00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,320
Speaker 1: help in a you know, with a crime being committed,

285
00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,319
Speaker 1: or you're trying to stop a youth in that scenario,

286
00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,000
Speaker 1: and then to end up that seriously injured. I think

287
00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,200
Speaker 1: it just goes to the heart of the concerns that

288
00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,719
Speaker 1: a lot of Territorians have got at the moment when

289
00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,800
Speaker 1: it comes to youth's offending. You know. Then we've got

290
00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:01,640
Speaker 1: this vision that came out last week where a police

291
00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,000
Speaker 1: car is being chased by a stolen vehicle in Plumper

292
00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,200
Speaker 1: by what appears to be a group of youths. It's,

293
00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,920
Speaker 1: you know, as you touched on earlier, it sort of

294
00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,600
Speaker 1: goes to the heart of those concerns people have got

295
00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,960
Speaker 1: where we seem to have some young people and all

296
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,960
Speaker 1: ages in the community who've got no respect for the law,

297
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,920
Speaker 1: no real respect for anybody, to be blunt about it,

298
00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,240
Speaker 1: and I question whether you've got much respect for yourself

299
00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,440
Speaker 1: either when you're prepared to do something like that to

300
00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:30,359
Speaker 1: another individual.

301
00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,080
Speaker 2: No, I agree with you, Katie. There's some certainly some

302
00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,280
Speaker 2: personal responsibility that has to come into this, and there's

303
00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,760
Speaker 2: some parental responsibility that has to come into this, and

304
00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,200
Speaker 2: there's that community responsibility as well. And shout out to

305
00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,000
Speaker 2: mister Black Ryanala Springs that did come to the assistance

306
00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,560
Speaker 2: of that business and try and stop some of that behavior.

307
00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,320
Speaker 2: But you know, there's a social part to this as well,

308
00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,440
Speaker 2: and that bad behavior needs to be called out, but

309
00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:55,440
Speaker 2: it needs to be recognized by the people that are

310
00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,880
Speaker 2: doing it. And saying is society going to accept this, Well,

311
00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,720
Speaker 2: no they're not. And my message is on territory police

312
00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,880
Speaker 2: aren't going to accept it. And if you do engage

313
00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,400
Speaker 2: in that criminal behavior, then we're coming for you and

314
00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,240
Speaker 2: we'll make sure that you suffer the consequences of your behavior.

315
00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,880
Speaker 1: In terms of that incident in Palumpa with the police

316
00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,680
Speaker 1: being chased by that stolen car, where are things at

317
00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:16,960
Speaker 1: with that?

318
00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,240
Speaker 2: So we've recovered that stylein motor vehicle and there's two

319
00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,640
Speaker 2: adult defenders that have been arrested in relation to that.

320
00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,680
Speaker 2: But can I just throw some caution to Katie. So

321
00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,920
Speaker 2: a lot of the stuff that circulates on social media

322
00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,240
Speaker 2: doesn't have the full story behind it, So there's small

323
00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,640
Speaker 2: snippets and it might seem that a vehicle's chasing the

324
00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,680
Speaker 2: police car. But I explained to you before, our guys

325
00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,160
Speaker 2: and girls that are out there trying to deal with

326
00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,600
Speaker 2: this situation are dealing with a dynamic situation where they're

327
00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,800
Speaker 2: going to try and apprehend a vehicle that is being

328
00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,920
Speaker 2: unlawfully used. It's got people in the back of it,

329
00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,760
Speaker 2: so they're considering not injuring the people that are in

330
00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:53,200
Speaker 2: that vehicle, and they're also trying to avoid property damage,

331
00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,040
Speaker 2: so they're trying to avoid smashing up that style and

332
00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,960
Speaker 2: car and smashing up police cars. So just because there's

333
00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,160
Speaker 2: a small snippet with a low speed what appears to

334
00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,400
Speaker 2: be a chase of a police vehicle doesn't mean that

335
00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,120
Speaker 2: that's the full story of what occurred out.

336
00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,560
Speaker 1: There, So you reckon the what the police officers were

337
00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,040
Speaker 1: actually doing in that situation was trying to obviously apprehend

338
00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,440
Speaker 1: the car, but also make sure that nobody in that

339
00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:14,400
Speaker 1: vehicle got injured.

340
00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,360
Speaker 2: That's right, and there's a lot more to that story

341
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,040
Speaker 2: than what that small snippet circling on social media is.

342
00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,440
Speaker 2: That's been resolved, that vehicle's been recovered, and there's been

343
00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,160
Speaker 2: offenders apprehended in relation to that.

344
00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:25,880
Speaker 1: Has it I mean, have you got a real issue

345
00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,160
Speaker 1: though in some of those different communities. And I don't

346
00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,720
Speaker 1: know the situation with Palumpa, but I know certainly when

347
00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,440
Speaker 1: we look at the daily region some of those communities,

348
00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:38,440
Speaker 1: there has been concerns with young people, allegedly with people

349
00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,360
Speaker 1: that are older than them as well, committing really serious

350
00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,760
Speaker 1: sort of car thefts and crime, so what a lot

351
00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:49,320
Speaker 1: of people would consider quite serious and you know, and

352
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,280
Speaker 1: not really seeing that leadership maybe from the community that

353
00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:53,120
Speaker 1: you might expect.

354
00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,880
Speaker 2: Yeah, and look, you're exactly right, Katie, And that's been

355
00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:58,680
Speaker 2: a problem for a while now. So we've had the

356
00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,600
Speaker 2: Fugitive Task Force out in the West Daily region in

357
00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:05,560
Speaker 2: the last week and they've performed a number of apprehensions

358
00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:07,639
Speaker 2: and taken out a number of those ring leaders that

359
00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,040
Speaker 2: continue to engage in that behavior and make sure that

360
00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:11,040
Speaker 2: they're out of circulation.

361
00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,040
Speaker 1: Now I want to ask you we are leading into

362
00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:17,120
Speaker 1: obviously Easter. We know we had a terrible year last

363
00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:21,040
Speaker 1: year on our roads when it comes to the death toll.

364
00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,399
Speaker 1: This year has been a little bit better. But what

365
00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,960
Speaker 1: is your message for territorians as we head into Easter?

366
00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,080
Speaker 1: And then I think it's three long weekends.

367
00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,440
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's exactly right, Katie. So we've got three long

368
00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,119
Speaker 2: weekends in a row, which is exciting for the public

369
00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:34,600
Speaker 2: to be able to get out and about and enjoy

370
00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,240
Speaker 2: the territory. But can I just tell people that you

371
00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,959
Speaker 2: will see an increase in our road policicing division out

372
00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:44,240
Speaker 2: and about across the territories. So that's from Darwin right

373
00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,840
Speaker 2: through to Catherine down to the Central Australia, and you'll

374
00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,960
Speaker 2: see our people doing large scale RBTs in remote locations

375
00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,119
Speaker 2: as well. So if you're entering into Listville Parker enjoying

376
00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,680
Speaker 2: some of the great stuff in the territory. You'll also

377
00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:57,919
Speaker 2: see a police presence on the roads, checking your speed,

378
00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,800
Speaker 2: making sure that you're not drinking or drug effected driving,

379
00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,680
Speaker 2: and making sure that your vehicles are roadworthy. So want

380
00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:08,359
Speaker 2: road users to remember the fatal five sixty lives lost

381
00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:11,360
Speaker 2: on our roads last year, which is an absolute terrible

382
00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,359
Speaker 2: indictment on drivers in the norm territory. As you said,

383
00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,280
Speaker 2: it's a little bit better this year, but we're currently

384
00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,680
Speaker 2: sitting at six lives lost on our roads this year.

385
00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,440
Speaker 2: We really don't want to see anymore. So just encourage

386
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,040
Speaker 2: the public whilst you're out there over these long weekends

387
00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,199
Speaker 2: enjoying yourself and enjoying the territory, just pay attention to

388
00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,520
Speaker 2: the fatal five. Make sure you're not drink driving, make

389
00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,560
Speaker 2: sure you're not tired, were your seat belt, you're not distracted.

390
00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,840
Speaker 1: And a big shout out to all the Northern Territory

391
00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,800
Speaker 1: police and all of our frontline workers who are going

392
00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,439
Speaker 1: to be working incredibly hard over the weekend while the

393
00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,919
Speaker 1: large majority of us are relaxing. The lie will be

394
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,240
Speaker 1: I know the police won't be. Martin Dole, Acting Police Commissioner,

395
00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,720
Speaker 1: good to speak with you this morning. Really appreciate your time.

396
00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:51,800
Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you,