1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: But we know that throughout the week we've spoken a 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: lot about the situation with a veteran police officer who 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: was suspended for publicly criticizing how his commissioners had treated 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: Constable Zachary Rolf over the fatal shooting of Kumen Jay Walker. 5 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Now joining me in the studio this morning to talk 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: about this and plenty of other issues is the Acting 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: Police Commissioner, Michael Murphy. 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 2: Good morning to you. 9 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 3: Good morning Katy. 10 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 2: Now Acting Commissioner. 11 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: We know that the Australian newspaper reported earlier this week 12 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: that Sergeant Mark Casey, who served for the Northern Territory 13 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 1: Police for twenty five years, has said that he was 14 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: devastated and terrified after being suspended without pay on Saturday 15 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: for alleged serious breaches of discipline related to his personal 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: behavior and public views. Now, the suspension obviously follows that 17 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: opinion piece which was written by the officer in which 18 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: he said that he had concerns relating to the authoritarian 19 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 1: management as a whole within the force and specifically in 20 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: relation to the charging of Constable Zachary Rolf. Why has 21 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: he been suspended without pay? 22 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 3: So we adhere to a code of conduct and Mark 23 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 3: is a season and respected police officer. He knows the 24 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 3: Code of Conduct well and I think he realized he 25 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 3: was probably speaking outside of the code of conduct, and 26 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 3: as police officers were accountable for what we say and 27 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 3: what we do, highly accountable to the public, highly accountable 28 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 3: to the chain of command, including up to the office 29 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 3: of Commissioner. Mark was served with a notice for an 30 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 3: explanation about why he conduct himself in that way and 31 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 3: breached the code of conduct. That process is still underway. 32 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 3: He was suspended without pay. We've had some correspondence from 33 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 3: the Northern Territory Police Association and we've also had a 34 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 3: letter written to me from his sister outlining some other 35 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 3: factors that need to be considered. So we're currently considering 36 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 3: them and it does blend into the well being aspects 37 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:56,559 Speaker 3: of our officers as well. 38 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: Now, I guess before I get to that, some are 39 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: questioning the hypocrisy. What they say is hypocrisy of the 40 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: suspension when there have been officers charged with criminal offenses 41 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: who have continued to be. 42 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: Paid while stood down. 43 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: What does make this situation different when some would consider 44 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: it more serious when somebody is charged with the criminal offense. 45 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 3: And that's it's a good point, and it's a consideration 46 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 3: by the delegated officer who has that authority to suspend 47 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 3: with or without pay, which is at the level of 48 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 3: deputy commissioner. They're presented with the facts and the circumstances 49 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 3: of the case and what needs to be explained, and 50 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 3: on this occasion that decision was made to suspend without 51 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 3: pay and then allowing the seven days for natural justice 52 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 3: and fairness for a response. But you're right, we probably 53 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 3: need to look at consistency about when we suspend and 54 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 3: without pay. And there are some things that I'm quite 55 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 3: comfortable suspending people that pay. If an officer commits a 56 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 3: sexual offense against a colleague, or there's racist kind of conduct, 57 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 3: the more serious offending in the workplace where we need 58 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 3: a safe environment, I've no hesitation in a suspension without 59 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 3: pay on that regard. 60 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: Look, I know that I do know that a lot 61 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: of police officers listen to this show, and I know 62 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: that some of them will be thinking to themselves this morning. 63 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: He's actually written about something that a lot of us 64 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: are concerned with right now. And I understand that there's 65 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: a code of conduct. I understand that certainly you know. 66 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: I know, I used to work in the police media 67 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: unit that you know that you don't want a situation 68 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: where everybody's going rogue and going to the media telling 69 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: them whatever they want at different times. But you know, 70 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: but some will be listening thinking he's sort of stood 71 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: up and said something that we're all really worried about 72 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: at the moment. 73 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so that you're right. It is a 74 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 3: commander control hierarchical structure where disciplines paramount to meet our functions. 75 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 3: You're right, we can't have rogue elements. But there's also 76 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 3: opportunities for officers, including Mark, and he's been around a 77 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 3: long time and knows how it operates, is to speak 78 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 3: to me, to speak to his superintendent. He's seeing this 79 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 3: sergeant to outline his concerns. And I think there's mechanisms 80 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 3: in play internally where people and it has to be courageous. 81 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 3: I offer people to talk to me. People don't really 82 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 3: want to come and talk to the boss all the time. 83 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: But we've got lots of officers. I've got four assistant commissioners, 84 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 3: eight commanders, thirty superintendents, sixty three senior sergeants, one hundred 85 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 3: and fifty sergeants who are there to support all our 86 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 3: officers across the front line. 87 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: Is there a worry though, amongst the force at the 88 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: moment that if they do come forward and they do 89 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: actually really voice those concerns in a really open and 90 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: honest way, they're going to wind up in the same situation. 91 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 3: Well, I think we need to be honest. I think 92 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 3: it's about having the courage to speak what you think. 93 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 3: So we have an understanding of the workforce. We talk 94 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: about the low morale, the management versus the workers. That's 95 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 3: got to stop, and it all blends into the well 96 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 3: being of the workforce as well. 97 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: Because how do you do that? 98 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: You know, Like, if we've got a situation at the 99 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: moment where where you have got some within the force 100 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: who who feel you know, who are feeling a bit 101 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: lost to feeling as though they don't have the support 102 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: of management, how do you know you bring everybody back 103 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: together again. 104 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 3: Well, I think what I can say is I support 105 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 3: the two and a half thousand people in the Northern 106 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 3: Turgy Police fig Emergency Services one hundred percent. Obviously, there 107 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 3: are positions where people might carry out misconduct or make 108 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 3: poor decisions in life and commit criminal offending. That's a 109 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 3: different story where they become accountable and possibly it might 110 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 3: be dismissal. But people need to know they can trust us, 111 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 3: the commissioner, the deputy commissioners, the assistant commissioners, their executive 112 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 3: contract officers. And it's about the place of safety here 113 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 3: because what we see now and previously is reactive approach 114 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 3: to mental health. Well we need to be is proactive 115 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 3: and people need a place of safety and confidence they 116 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 3: can raise any issues in their line supervisors to sort 117 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 3: something out, because we can't wait till it's too late 118 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 3: and they have a burden and a sense of hopelessness 119 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 3: and they feel lost and they're no longer going to 120 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: be an effective police officer, officer, a man she saves 121 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 3: upbratar or a civilian employment. 122 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, we know that that is a concern 123 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: at the moment. I will I'll get to that in 124 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: just a moment, particularly with the issue of suicide. But 125 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: I do want to just ask you very quickly. I 126 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: understand that there are three police regions who have apparently 127 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: now voted for the Northern Territory Police Association to hold 128 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: a territory wide vote of no confidence in the police 129 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: Commissioner Jamie Chalker and Deputy Commissioner Murray small Page. Are 130 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: you concerned that the force is losing that confidence in management? 131 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 3: No, not at all. I think there's a small faction 132 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 3: who are agitating, and I've said it before, it's a distraction. 133 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 3: It's a distraction from the majority of our hard working 134 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 3: police officers who come to work with purpose every day 135 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 3: to protect territorians and do the right thing and uphold 136 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 3: their oath of office. 137 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: Now, we do know that there has been real concerns 138 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: raised this week, obviously about mental healthy You've touched on 139 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: it already this morning, but certainly following on from the 140 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: tragic death of a former police officer now a highly 141 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: respected and much loved officer who'd taken his life. This 142 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: is such a serious issue and we don't talk about 143 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: suicide lightly on this show. Certainly, if you're out there 144 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: listening this morning, and you will someone you know is. 145 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: Suffering, there are people who you can call. 146 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: Certainly get in contact with lifeline. The concern that has 147 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: been raised is that it is the third person in 148 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: three months. 149 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 2: Is there enough being done in this space? 150 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:33,239 Speaker 3: Well, we lost justin Tremor to suicide. We've lost Michael 151 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 3: Dutram to suicide and our thoughts are with his family today. 152 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 3: His funerals currently taking place right now in Adelaide. Our 153 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: thoughts are with a retired senior Sergeant Gary Smith and 154 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 3: his sister Deb and his children and his previous families 155 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 3: as well, because they are absolutely devastating. I served with 156 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 3: Gary in the Central Desert. Great fella, tough bugger, but 157 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 3: he said it himself, the tough is the facade you 158 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 3: need to reach out for help. I think that the 159 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 3: policing environments changed considerably. Where decades ago is you and 160 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 3: have a couple of beers and get over it, right. 161 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 3: It's not the case these days because the Beyond Blue 162 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: survey tells us that there's more retired officers suffering in 163 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 3: the PTSD space than serving officers. Like it's a one 164 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 3: to four compared to a one to ten comparison nationally, 165 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 3: which is very concerning. So we've just undertaken a review 166 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 3: into the mental health and will be and the support services. 167 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 3: Like I said, it's about adopting a model that's based 168 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 3: similar to Tasmania as well. They've got obviously a police, 169 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 3: fire and emergency services with forensic capability similar comparative numbers. 170 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,839 Speaker 3: So we've looked at the Tasmanian model, which is quite 171 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 3: a good model, ligning with the Beyond Blue report as 172 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 3: well and consolidating that so we have an end to 173 00:08:55,200 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 3: end basically support service for recruitment going through recruitment, understanding 174 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 3: what they're seeing and feeling as they do their training, 175 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 3: the continued focus proactively in the field with debriefs, access 176 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: to services, breaking the stigma of fear and shame attached 177 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 3: to it's okay not to be okay? 178 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: Is there a situation where there needs to be more 179 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: support as well once an officer has left the force, 180 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: So maybe not just for a six month period, but 181 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: for longer. 182 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 3: Absolutely so, when a retired police officer leaves, there's still 183 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 3: a strong identity as a police officer. I've visited officers 184 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 3: who have passed away in palliative care who have left 185 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 3: the police force decades ago, who are still cops. Yep, right, 186 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 3: there's still cops. They've still got the badge on their arm. 187 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 3: Transitioning from a police force that is very difficult and 188 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 3: challenging mentally and physically to a life of what's supposed 189 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 3: to be ordinary. But all the things you've seen that challenge. 190 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 3: Your very fabric of fundamental understanding of human nature is difficult. 191 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 3: Services and the transitioning need to be provided five to 192 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 3: ten years past leaving a police service. Even we're seeing 193 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 3: that even as a ten year serving officer there's significant 194 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 3: distressed and psychosocial issues attached to it. 195 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 2: So is that something that's being looked at. 196 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: Is it something that obviously funding needs to be provided 197 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: for though, So. 198 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 3: What we're going to do is it's going to be 199 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 3: an incremental change to provide better and enhance services to 200 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 3: the workforce and into retirement. There's a body of work 201 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 3: being done at the comwealth level too, more so on 202 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 3: the back of the bushfires and all the emergency response 203 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 3: and humanitarian response we've seen by a number of emergency 204 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,839 Speaker 3: services first responders but even the Australian Defense Force. So 205 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 3: we are doing some work. We're taking this very seriously. 206 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:52,359 Speaker 3: The three suicides have impacted the workforce significantly. It's impacting 207 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 3: a lot of people. It's time to act now. 208 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 209 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: Look, I do want to ask you before I let 210 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: you go this morning, just to cut quick ones. But 211 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: I know that they are ones that a lot of 212 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: our listeners are going to care quite a lot about. 213 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: One of the issues that we've spoken about a lot 214 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: on this show. You and I have discussed it in 215 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: recent weeks as well, is the number of people that 216 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: we're seeing around Darwin in from community and some of 217 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: the you know, the on flow of that that public 218 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: drunkenness that we're seeing. A few weeks ago you had 219 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: told us there was around two thousand people in town. 220 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: Are we still at those record numbers? 221 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 3: Actually higher, so we're saying just probably under three thousand 222 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 3: people across April, so it's gone up. So what we're 223 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 3: seeing is displacement from what air as well. Obviously there's 224 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 3: been some property damage and fighting. I'm saying the death 225 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 3: of the thirty two year old man out there that's 226 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 3: caused significant displacement. We're talking about thirty seven to fifty 227 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 3: houses that are uninhabitable now that need work and that's 228 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 3: going to take time. So I've seen displacement within community 229 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 3: and we've seen displacement into Darwin as well. So we've 230 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 3: seen about three thousand people. Lari Kia our police office 231 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 3: are working very hard to address the any social behavior. 232 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 3: We're seeing about three hundred and sixty five people uptake 233 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 3: return to country, but that's consensual. Obviously, we're seeing still 234 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 3: high numbers going through the sabering upshorter around twelve hundred 235 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 3: a month. We're seeing about one hundred people coming into 236 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,959 Speaker 3: protective custody in the police cells. So it's still very 237 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,959 Speaker 3: busy and it's not isolated to go and with the 238 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 3: same urban areas Catherine TenneT Creek and Alice Springs are 239 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 3: seeing the same things. 240 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: And I mean, this is so tough. There's a lot, like, 241 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: there's a lot to take in on that. Firstly, with 242 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: the number of people that are here, up to three 243 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: thousand people here now. 244 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 2: More than what it had been earlier in the year. 245 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: And you've pointed out a number of different reasons for that, 246 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: and I'll go to what air in just a second, 247 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 1: But how tough is that making it then for the 248 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: police trying to do trying to do your jobs and 249 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: trying to deal with you know, with the day to 250 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: day crime and issues that we see around the place. 251 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: But then with an extra three thousand people in town 252 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: who are sleeping rough who are unfortunately you know, maybe 253 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: in some cases engaging in consuming alcohol and you know, 254 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: in some cases we're seeing criminal behavior. 255 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 3: So you probably safely say, a majority of them aren't 256 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 3: committing any crimes. A minority do drink to excess and 257 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 3: either become a vulnerable person and a victim of crime 258 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,319 Speaker 3: or an offender, usually domestic violence or some street offense. 259 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 3: So we are seeing a massive impost on our offices 260 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 3: on the front line, which does you know it balances 261 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 3: our resources against other priority jobs like car crashes and 262 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 3: tending domestic violence in the home and other emergencies. So 263 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 3: call center is quite busy. There's about a twenty percent 264 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 3: increase in calls into the communication center. That's quite significant. 265 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 3: So it's about the decision making and the judgment from 266 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 3: the call center to direct the resources where they need 267 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 3: to be. But the important thing is is there are 268 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 3: facilities where people can access, such as the Baton Road facility. 269 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 3: We rely heavily upon our town rangers, well lie heavily 270 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 3: on the public housing safety officers, transit officers and Larry 271 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 3: kia Nation to help us do our job as well. 272 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: Do you need more support from some of those other agencies? 273 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 3: I think Larry k do a great job. Yeah, I 274 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 3: think that it's just the volume is overwhelms us. 275 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's tough, Like there's no doubt about that, and 276 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: no I reckon it's become something that so many people 277 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: are worried about. You know, we hear stories quite often 278 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: of you know, somebody might be going to get takeaway 279 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: and perrap and there's somebody who's picked up a sign 280 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: and is threatening people in their cars. They maybe haven't 281 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: actually hit anybody with their cars, but it's just behavior 282 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: that you don't want to see, you don't want the 283 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: kids to see, you know, out on the straight. 284 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it is, and it is quite confronting, and 285 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 3: it's the difference between confronting and criminal. But we do 286 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 3: our best. You know, our officers work hard twenty four 287 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 3: to seven. They're doing their best and accessing what services 288 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 3: we can do as this stuffs in the morning and 289 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 3: evenings as well to the curbs in this social bidea. 290 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 2: Do we have enough police? 291 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 3: I think so. Yeah. We've got sixteen hundred and forty 292 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 3: police officers where recruiting recruited about two hundred and fifty 293 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 3: last year. There was one hundred and eighty nine constables, 294 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 3: forty seven auxiliaries and tanacpos. We've got fifty nine police 295 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 3: officers in college right now in three squads squad one 296 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 3: four five, one four six and the accelerated recruit program 297 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 3: and one four to seven. We've got another squad starting 298 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 3: in May and another twenty eight police officers and another 299 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 3: one later in the year with hopefully forty five. We're 300 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 3: additional auxiliaries and actpos planned for this month or the 301 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 3: following month. So yes, we do. And we are outstripping attrition, 302 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 3: which is still high, but we're seeing people leave for 303 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 3: different reasons. There are other employment opportunities. We're seeing Queensland, 304 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 3: New South Wales and Western Australia over three years recruit 305 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 3: four and a half thousand police, so we're an attractive 306 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 3: entity to those law enforcement bodies. We're seeing people who 307 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 3: are just making decisions Lias style choices to look seat 308 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 3: seat new employment. We've got cops going down to be 309 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 3: rangers in the national Parks in South Australia and just 310 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 3: different lifestyle choices. I think COVID, we say COVID's you know, 311 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 3: basically made a bit of a change for us as well, 312 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 3: because people have been away from family. The last two 313 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 3: years have been tough and you know, the global commentary 314 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 3: with police, we talk about police being assaulted all the time, 315 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 3: there's a national challenge about recruitment, but we seem to 316 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 3: be doing all right. Since we changed our online shape 317 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 3: for the future online applications, we've actually had an overwhelming 318 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 3: increase in people who want to come and join the 319 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 3: Northern Churich of Police. 320 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: Now, before I let you go, just an update on 321 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: what is happening in What Air. I know that there 322 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: had been comments made by Northern Territory, well, Northern Territory 323 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: politician Melandarry McCarthy saying that basic humanitarian needs are not 324 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: being met. Are they out there in what Air from 325 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: your perspective, I know you're out there. 326 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 3: Earlier in the week, so I was out there early 327 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 3: in the week. We need to do some more work 328 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 3: in there to support them because this displacement is really 329 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 3: medium term. It's not going to be a short term 330 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 3: fixed with replacement to the housing and repairs, it's going 331 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 3: to take some months. So we need to make sure 332 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 3: and I know as a collective government and the organizations 333 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 3: on the ground there are doing a lot of work 334 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 3: to support the women, the children, and the men and 335 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 3: the traditional owners to live some sort of normal lifestyle 336 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 3: where they're going through this displacement. And there's some mediation 337 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 3: to bring harmony and peace back to that community. 338 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a worry, no doubt about it. And you 339 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: want to make sure that people are safe out there, 340 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: particularly women and children. Absolutely, Commissioner, Acting Commissioner Michael Murphy, 341 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 1: we appreciate your time this morning. 342 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for having a chat with us. Thank you, Katie, 343 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 2: thank you.