1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: There is quite a bit happening around the place. And 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: joining us in the studio right now is the Northern 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: Territory Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Holland b. Good morning to you, Matte. 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, Good morning Katie, Good morning to your listeners. 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: Good to have you in the studio now. I do 6 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:15,239 Speaker 1: want to ask you first off before I find out 7 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: a little bit more about some of the incidents over 8 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: the last couple of days about our watch houses at 9 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: this point in time. We spoke to the Police Association 10 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: President Nathan Finn a bit earlier this morning. He said 11 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: that on Monday the Palmerston Watchhouse was not able to 12 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: be used by police because it was overflowing with corrections. 13 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 2: Corrections numbers change every day in our watchhouse. I think 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: everyone knows that the Darwin Watchhouse is occupied by Corrections 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 2: at the moment and we're supporting their operations using ourselves 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: at Palmerston to assist them in prisoner management. So Mondays 17 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: are usually the worst day because we have a lot 18 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: of remands taken from over the weekend and from time 19 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 2: to time it does get quite full, but we also 20 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: need a certain number of cells just to operate police business. 21 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: For male and female prisoners and youth prisoners of our own. 22 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 2: So yeah, no, it's awkward situation, but we're helping Corrections 23 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: as best you can manage with that issue. 24 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: And I think everybody listening will understand that it's a 25 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: difficult situation, right because Corrections are obviously they are in 26 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 1: need of that facility because they're overflowing. But then what 27 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 1: sort of happens when you're in a situation like you're 28 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: in on Monday. Whether Darwin watch House isn't being used 29 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: by the police, it's being used by Corrections Palmerston watch 30 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: houses where you're then utilizing to be able to you know, 31 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: to take people that have been arrested, but there's no 32 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: space in there, so what do the police do? 33 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Katie, it's it's a fairly short term issue 34 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: because on Mondays there will be prisoners going to court, 35 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: there will be prisoners being released from the prison, which 36 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: we'll free more beds, and so yeah, Monday is particularly 37 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 2: awkward for us. But you know, we put a lot 38 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: of pressure on Corrections to manage the prisoner numbers because 39 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: you know, we are doing it as a favor for them, 40 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 2: and yeah, so it's you know, ultimately it's their responsibility 41 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: and we're just assisting with it. 42 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: And I guess just for our listeners, you know, their 43 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: main concern will be that we are not in a 44 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: situation where people that should be going to the watchhouse 45 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: aren't going to the watchhouse because there's no capacity. I mean, 46 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: police are still taking those people to the watchhouse. 47 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, Katie, and we're actually supporting Catherine as well 48 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: because they end up with a lot of corrections remands 49 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 2: as well, and there's no corrections footprint in Catherine, so 50 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: they are transfer transported to Darwin and initially at least 51 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: they are accommodated at the Palmerston Watchhouse as well, So 52 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 2: you know, it's reducing a risk point for us circumstance, 53 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: and you know, Corrections do what they can to free 54 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: ut space in our watchhouse. 55 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: Do you reckon we're seeing, you know, that increase in 56 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: volume as were, due to the fact that the police 57 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: really have been focusing on, you know, domestic violence. I 58 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: know that you've had a real focus over the last 59 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: couple of weeks in terms of going out and arresting 60 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: those alleged defenders. 61 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Katie, we did have an operation that ran 62 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: Operation Jardine, which ran for a while targeting outstanding domestic 63 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: violence offenders. And you know, we're supporting Catherine, and there's 64 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 2: local business as well in terms of arresting and charging 65 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: and in some cases reminding people as well. 66 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,839 Speaker 1: Now I want to ask you one of the other 67 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: things that we've spoken to the Police Association about was 68 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: some of the assaults that we're seeing against Northern Territory police. 69 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: I mean over the weekend in Alice Springs. And I 70 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: know that you obviously Alice Springs isn't part of your command, 71 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: so I know that there'll be things that you can't 72 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: talk about there. But there was certainly a pretty serious 73 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: situation where, you know, where a stolen vehicle was allegedly 74 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: driven at a police officer who was trying to lay 75 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: out those tired deflation devices. It's appalling stuff. 76 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look that happened on Sunday morning, Katie. It was 77 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: a stolen car and the police were attempting to lay 78 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 2: out tied deflation devices and its worth towards the police. 79 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 2: And that's on the back of the quite serious assault 80 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 2: that happened at Perl and Gimpe And you know that 81 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 2: happened early in the morning and you know, within and 82 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 2: within two hours, we had g we had investigators, we 83 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: had a lot of people on the ground to support 84 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 2: the police officer, the other police officers and to put 85 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: a quick stop to what was taking place there at 86 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 2: the time. 87 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: How difficult is it becoming for Northern Territory police when 88 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: you look at some of the violent you know, the 89 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,799 Speaker 1: violent behavior towards the police trying to do your jobs 90 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: at the moment. 91 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Katie, assaults on police are unacceptable at any time. 92 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: You know, these two examples are quite serious examples. And 93 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 2: you know, spitting is probably the most disgusting thing you 94 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: can the way you can be assaulted, you know, me personally, 95 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:07,919 Speaker 2: and I think a lot of most other police officers 96 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 2: would rather be punched in the face than than be 97 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: spat out in the face. It's just it's just outrageous. 98 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: It's disgusting, and you know, we don't shy away at 99 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 2: all from arresting people that exhibit those behaviors. 100 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's all it's pretty appalling stuff. I mean, and 101 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: some of like like I sort of think them as 102 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: like trying to drive a car at you, for example, 103 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: then to rock up the next day and to you know, 104 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: to continue to do your job. 105 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, Katie, these things, you know, they accumulate. You know, 106 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: it's an accumulation of mental scars for police officers, and 107 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: that's what causes long term, you know, mental health injuries. 108 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 2: And but we have a job to do and we 109 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: do it quite well. And you know, hats off to 110 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 2: the hard working people on the front line that do 111 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: it day in and day out to protect our broader community. 112 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: Now, Assistant Commissioner, let's talk about some of that work 113 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: that has actually happened over recent days. We've got two 114 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: people who went missing on Sunday. They've fortunately now been 115 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: found safe after writing a call for help on their 116 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: rooftop tent. Tell me exactly what went on here. 117 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 2: Look, Katie, this is a good news story. We initially 118 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: held concerns for a couple, a twenty nine year old 119 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 2: lady and a thirty two year old man, and they 120 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 2: were last seen together on Sunday at the Nightcliff Foreshore, 121 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: and you know, there was just no trace of them, 122 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 2: and so there was a fairly extensive investigation and we 123 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: had a fair idea they might be in the Gunpoint area, 124 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: and so we launched a search and rescue mission Search 125 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: and Rescue Team TRG, the mounted unit and police dogs 126 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 2: as well, and deployed a helicopter and that just so 127 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: happened that we were looking in the right area, but 128 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: another helicopter spotted them from the air, and you know, 129 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 2: they were found safe and well. They stayed with their 130 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 2: car and they'd been missing for a couple of days. 131 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: And what had happened? Did they get bored? 132 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 2: They got bolved and they couldn't get out, And I 133 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: think it might be a couple that had just made 134 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: to be together. 135 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: So sorry, I was sneezing in the background there as well. 136 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: Oh goodness me, that would have been quite frightening for them. 137 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: How many like how many officers or what was the 138 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: kind of search? You know, what did you have to 139 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: do to be able to locate that? 140 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: Oh look, I didn't bring all the exact details, but 141 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: there was about there's about ten or fifteen officers and 142 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: there was some Northern Territory Emergency Services volunteers that were 143 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 2: on their way out as well, and so it was 144 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: actually quite quite a large operation. But it was fortunate 145 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 2: that they were found at very early stages. So you know, 146 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: they're a bit hungry, but both safe and well, and 147 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: it'd be an interesting first date to explain to your grandchildren. 148 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: Poor buggers. I mean, thank goodness they're okay, because we 149 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: know that sometimes those situations can become so incredibly frightening 150 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: for people. So I'm glad that they are okay. Now 151 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: I do want to ask you as well. As we're 152 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: leading into that Christmas period, of course, we know that 153 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: we have actually had a terrible time on our roads. 154 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: No doubt, road safety is going to be a huge 155 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: focus for Northern Territory Police over the coming weeks. 156 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Katie, you know, fifty eight people have died 157 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 2: on our roads this year. That's not to mention the 158 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 2: people that were seriously injured and you know, slightly injured, 159 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 2: and it's not to mention the damage to people people's 160 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: vehicles that they'll be paying off for decades in some cases. 161 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: So we are launching a fairly significant road safety operation 162 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: over the Christmas New Year period. It starts tomorrow, and 163 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 2: you know, really the the real emphasis at the Christmas 164 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 2: time is drink driving and drug driving. But you know, speed, 165 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 2: seat belts, distraction, they're all part of it, but the 166 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 2: big emphasis will be on drink and drug driving. 167 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: So kicking off tomorrow. I mean, can people expect to 168 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: see a greater police presence on our roads. Can they 169 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: expect to see, you know, the booze bus on the 170 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: side of the road when they're driving out of the city, 171 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:07,679 Speaker 1: that kind of thing. 172 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, Katie, And it'll go until the first end 173 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: of the first week of January. So look, please, just 174 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 2: it is Christmas time, it's a festive time, it's a 175 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 2: time for family and friends, have a good Christmas. But 176 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 2: you know it is also a peak period for our 177 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,599 Speaker 2: serious injury crashes. So you want it to be a 178 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: merry Christmas. You don't want to spend it eating hospital food. 179 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: So please be safe on our roads. Don't drink and drive, 180 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 2: don't take drugs and drive, and make sure you each 181 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: seat belt. 182 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: Good advice well. Assistant Commissioner Matt Hollanby. Always appreciate your time. 183 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:44,959 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for joining us this morning. 184 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 2: Always a pleasure, Katie. And if we don't speak to 185 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 2: you before you have a merry Christmas and a happy 186 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: New Year you too. 187 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 1: Thank you.