Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now joining me in the studio is the acting Police Commissioner,
Michael Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good morning to you, Katie. Thanks so much for joining
us this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Now we know that obviously domestic violence issues across the
Northern Territory have been in the spotlight through the numbers
that were revealed by the Territory Police, but also through
the coronial which has been underway.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm keen to find out from you how.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Are these DV incidents looking at this point in time.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
They still consume a lot of our time and priorities.
Obviously it keeps me up at night the amount of
dvs we're still encountering. I explained that just overnight in
itself across the territory, we had ninety five calls to
the Joint Emergency Communication Center asking for assistance it's DV related,
which is a significant number.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Across ninety five in one night.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Ninety five. Yeah, and when the last couple of nights
has been tracking at eighty three and seventy six, so
significantly high. One of the highest job priorities we have,
and it's each incident is a priority, and it obviously
consumes a lot of time our offices on the front
line corresponding across the territory in our remote stations twenty
four to seven.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
They're phenomenal numbers for all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, Look, it hasn't abated since COVID either, it's remained high,
and there's a lot of work that we're doing, but
across government and non government organizations around the prevention space
as well, you know, it's about safe spaces, education, change
behavior programs, what that all looks like as well, because
the prevention, the investment in prevention is really significant to
(01:28):
protect women and children who are predominantly the victims in
this space.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Well, and it seems like the police are there right
at the pointy end, and I get that, and I
get that there you know that there could be more
that is done, you know, like more quickly, and that
people could criticize the police. And I'm very cognizant that
there is a coronial underway. So I don't want to
go you know, into that or to sort of you know,
to preempt anything there. But it does seem as though
(01:54):
we could be doing more in the territory as well
in terms of you know, sort of stopping this stuff
before it gets to that point.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah. Absolutely, Katie. I think the investment too is we
see a lot of vulnerable people who are intoxicated that
often leads to domestic violence or all location. Because we
see a high engagement when we see about sixty six
percent of dvs. Seventy percent our cohols involved. So when
we see reports of any social behavior coming in about
(02:22):
people in public places, usually it's public places, it's intimate partners,
it's intoxication that leads to violence, and sadly we saw
that in ourther Springs with a homicide in recent days,
which is you know, that's the engagement about vulnerble people,
the control around the liquor restrictions, how we manage that,
how we look at the family safety framework to help
(02:43):
victims and change our focus to a victim focus as well,
so we can look at recidivism across victims to protect
them and their children into the future.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Well, and we do, as you've just touched on there
in Our Springs on the weekend of fifty one year
old man's allegedly well allegedly murdered he's.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Forty seven year old partner at a bush camp.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Is there much further detail at this point in time,
or much further that has happened from that side of things.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Not at this time. He's before the court now and
obviously he'll go through the justice process to answer for
his conduct.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
And those liquor restrictions you touched on those, do you
see like in Alice Springs, do you see that there
is a decrease in the volume of domestic violence school
outs or the number of domestic violence incidents on the
days where there are those liquor restrictions.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, So, having been in other springs and talking to
the officers there who actually see and feel actually what's occurring,
there has been a significant change in activity and their
response across the dry days, which are the two days
of week Monday and Tuesday. The restriction in hours actually
allows them to do and you can see the more
proactive policing instead of just a full reactive space. They
(03:49):
still are incredibly busy, but since the introduction of the
restrictions in January, we saw a downturn in domestic violence,
We saw a downturn in youth disturbances, We saw a
downturn in social public disorder, We saw downturn in the
requirement of Saint John's to respond to violence, and hospital presentations.
So it's all there, and it took a sharp decline
(04:10):
and out sort of fairly stable. And I've explained that,
you know, the first three months of the restrictions allowed
a real significant impact, and then the next three months
is the evaluation process about what should continue. And will
recommend that the liquor restrictions continue because it really gives
us room to breathe in the community, room to breathe
and actually continue to evaluate and make a difference to
(04:32):
public safety.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So the Northern Territory Police, from your perspective as the
acting commissioner, that is your recommendation that those LIGA restrictions
do continue.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
It is yes.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Do you think that they need to be broadened across
the territory to other locations.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I think that's open for discussion. I think we can
probably look at and there's a lot of work on
the way too with the review of the Liquor Act
and those discussions about how we can do things smarter
as well through the band drinkers registered, through some technology
tools to help not just the heavy lifting through police officers,
but what fundamental technology and assistance to reduce crime, especially
alcohol related crime with a territory perspective, but we've also
(05:07):
got a pretty keen focus on secondary supply from in state.
So we still see some flow of supply from South
Australia and Queensland, so we work with counterparts there to
try and reduce that opportunity as well.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
How do you reckon we might be able to use
the BDR a little bit differently so that you know,
so that.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
It could be more effective.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Because even you sort of think to yourself sometimes like
are there people making a number of purchases across the
day and then going and on selling And I know
that that's something you guys be looking into, but like,
give is that something that we can do more efficiently?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Absolutely? So, if you've got a person that's going across
the Greater Daan area and to visiting ten bottle shops
and buying six bottles of wine, if somehow we can
detect that and feed into a high risk area and
we can focus our energy on that person because they're
obviously not consuming that much wine every day. We know
there are secondary supplies occurring across the graded Owen area
(06:00):
Northern Territory from people buying alcoholic different outlets. It's better
controlled across tenant Creek, Catherine and Alice, because we've got
the police auxiliary liquor inspectors who can detect similar behaviors
but in dar and it's a little bit different. So
technology footprint to identify people who are procuring alcohol more
often than not at what volume will allow us to
sharpen our focus on the harm they might be creating
(06:22):
in community.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So where are you at that?
Speaker 1 (06:24):
You know, we sort of looking at that technology footprint
and how it might work.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
So we're talking with obviously the Minister of Alcohol Policies,
Offers and Licensing as well to look at some ideas
to be innovative in our thinking and what technology we
can use to identify people who might be a problem
to the territory because they're the people who are exploiting
usually vulnerable people and creating harm in the community. That
(06:49):
can then reduce our requirement for demand and response by
reducing anti social behavior and violence. We see, how.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Far away do you reckon we might be from seeing
some of like from seeing the used a bit differently.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I don't know, OKAYI I wouldn't have an answer for that,
But from my perspective, the sooner the better, because there'll
just be a tool we can use across government to
help us target some problem people.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Yeah, and look, I suppose from my perspective, I think
to myself, well, why you know, like, why not if
we're using this tool already, if we can use it
more effectively so it actually makes more of an impact,
then surely that's a good thing to do. And surely
if it can assist the police with their work, then
you know that's helpful.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah. Absolutely, And we know that we see it every
day that liquor is a contributor to an enabler for
harm and you know, unlawful activity. So anything we can
do differently to increase public safety, and you know it's
bigger picture too. The Northern Territory has been in the
spotlight a fair a bit lately for all the wrong reasons,
with some of the crime and any social issues. So
(07:47):
if we can change that narrative and make it a
safer place and make sure it's inviting and prosperous for
people to visit, that's going to be great.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Absolutely, I do want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I spoke to a listener before the show this morning
who had a DV incident outside his house on the weekend.
He called police at about seven twenty on Saturday. The
police didn't attend for around an hour. Now he ended
up helping that woman, as I understand it, and dropping
her home. Look, I know that you know that people
feel as though the police are doing a really good
(08:19):
job under tough circumstances. But you know, with people reporting
these incidents, it does seem as though they are making
those reports but potentially there's not enough police or you know,
it's hard for police to be able to get out
to everything, particularly when you look at ninety five incidents
or ninety five call outs in one night on DV incidents.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
I mean those numbers are astronomical.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah, the demand is quite high on us at the moment.
And firstly, can I thank your listener for actually engaging
and helping that woman who was in need at the time.
We triage and prioritize the response through the join Emenciti
communication center. Our women and men across the police force
working tirele see twenty four to seven doing in credit,
job balancing DV amongst other things too. You know, we
(09:04):
saw some incidents Stephen yesterday where we had a female
presenter knife at a bottle shop in Darwen that was
reported to us within eight minutes, she was arrested. She's
now before the court. We had a burglary at char
last night, so that was reported through an alarm system
and our CCTV operators basically track three offenders to premises
(09:28):
and arrest of them very promptly. So there's lots of
other things going on as well. DV is a priority.
So it's about the call center. It gets thirty five
thousand calls a month. How do we reduce the consumption
there by smarter reporting, maybe online so callers can have
more time to promptly answer calls and then dispatch which
(09:49):
plugs in. Then to our recruitment footprint about the Instead
of all the people in the squads staying in or
going outside of Darwin to remote locations, there's going to
be some staying back in Darwen now to bolster the force.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Here here, right, So keep some of those people here
in Darwin.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
So the next squad that graduates one fifty one, there'll
be thirteen officers staying. We've got forty officers starting on
the thirty first of July and a number of them
will remain indow and the bolster the force up here
as well.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Do we have enough police?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Well, we do. We've got a lot of police, like
when you look across Australia, we do. We are struggling
to meet demand at the moment and that's what's going
to be really important. And you know, the Chief Minister
and the Police Minister and the President of the Northern
Church of Police Association myself have discussed this about the
Police Resource Review, So exactly where our resources are going
for what priorities, what do we need to change, what
(10:37):
do we need to better invest in. That's going to
be really significant and now's the time to do it.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Has it begun the.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Initial conversations have We're pretty reliant upon the electronic rostering
system which is advancing through the Department of Corporate Digital
Services now, so that's going to be probably formulated by
about November, but that'll give us a bit of a
footprint about Alice Springs and Darwin which can inform further
conversation about resourcing in demand.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Now we've spoken to the Association president. He'd said that
it wasn't required. That you know that the electronic rosterring
wasn't required, but you reckon you do still need it
need to be able to have a look at it.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
It's going to be an important tool to help us
inform some decision making and direction. And I think there's
going to be if there's a you know, people who
were the level of independence come in with policing experience
as well. That's going to be vital to help shape
with freshetd of eyes to come in and say, hey,
what do we need to do where do we need
to do it. That's going to be really integral because
and community feedback. What are the community expectations? I mean,
that's a key part to policing, isn't it that we
(11:32):
look after the community and listen to the community and
make sure we're servicing their needs the best we can.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Now, I know you pressed for time, but I want
to just get through a couple of other things. There
was a wild incident in Catherine last week involving a
car stolen from the education precinct and driven dangerously through
town and towards the police.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Firstly, how are those police.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Officers are probably shaken and you know it's quite alarming.
That's a really the second time we've seen a stolen
motor vehicle target police. We saw all the other stolen cars.
Two stolen cars crash into both cars riding off our
police cars some months ago. But this car's crashed in,
done some damage to the wheel archers inside the police car.
Our officers are uninjured, thankfully, and we've since arrested a
(12:15):
sixteen year old in Catherine who's now facing court.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
It's pretty wild.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Like there was an incident in Mount Isa as well
last week where there was a car stolen in that
community and it was driven around. It was then targeting
cars and kids allegedly as well at.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
One of the schools.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
It does seem as though across the nation we've got
a bit of an issue right now. And I don't
know the age of the people that stole this vehicle
in Catherine last week, but where we've got this situation
where they're stealing cars. You and I have spoken about
it before, they're sharing stuff then on TikTok. It's just
unbelievable and it is so incredibly frustrating, I think, to
the community because it's putting everyone in danger, the police,
(12:54):
the community, everybody.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
It's incredibly dangerous and you're right, and it's a national
trend that's occurring. We see it in outh Australia, Melbourne,
New South Wales, Queensland, you know, Northern Queensland, Western Australia.
They do monitor each other's accounts and they want notoriety
and that's a big thing that start them on social
media and that's where the Safety Commissioner can come in
and actually wind some stuff up and just put it
(13:16):
in the rubbish bin so it's not shared more widely. So,
but the behavior here we saw in Catherine. You know,
we've got tools to disable cars through the tire spikes
and those types of things, but you know, it'd be
great if that behavior didn't occur because it just puts
the public and you know, our officers at risk in
trying to stop the behavior.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Did we see much of a flare up over the
school holidays when it came to the crime, No, not
at all.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
So there was actually some really good planning across the
territory from police, but a significant investment across government about programs.
So just that engagement. Alice Springs school holidays have been
really good as well. So yeah, look, I think it
was the forward planning and just that preparation and we're
always planning, so we're planning for the next school holidays.
Obviously important messages schools back. So when you look at roads, safety,
(13:58):
look out for the schools, owns, look out for our kids.
Drive to the conditions and look after yourselves and pay
attention when you're driving staff your mobile.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, absolutely make sure that you do stay safe around
the schools.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Hey, I just thought of it while you're speaking.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Then. Last time you were on, we spoke about the
knife crime strategy as well. Has there been any update
with that, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
So we'll probably look at announcement next week around the
advancement of what we're doing with some wandering and search
provisions and bail and weapons control acts and that type
of stuff. So it's really progressing well. Obviously government's going
to obviously be informed and make a determination and there'll
be some announcements in the coming weeks.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
All right, we'll keep an eye out for that.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
On another matter, I understand that police are considering a
reward as well for information for missing mother Angie Fuller,
who disappeared while traveling from Darwin to Alice Springs about
six months ago.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, so Angie basically ninth of January. She went missing
the eleventh of January, it was reported to police. We
did a pretty intensive two week operation search and rescue operation.
After some other ever and facts were obtained, it's now
turned to a homicide inquiry. The Major Crime have got
that inquiry. You would have seen there's been a request
for information around two vehicles. There was a silver pulsar
(15:11):
with empty plates and a sort of a camouflage Dayatsu
full will drive without a canopy. We're really interested to
know where those cars were between the ninth and twelfth
of January, somewhere around the Tanner Mines turn off with
the Stuart Highway. Andrew was in a red pulsar. I
believe it was a pulsar. But we have put a
(15:33):
submission up for a reward for two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to the Budget Review Subcommittee. So when if
that's approved, and I'm fairly confident it will be. What
that enables is educating the public and we've got obviously
some persons of interest in relation to this investigation. If
people come forward and offer information that leads to an
(15:53):
arrest or a prosecution, then they can access some of
that funds and it's dependent upon obviously some decision making
through the DPPM police about what allocation of funds that is.
But we know that money is a really good incentive,
and especially when we're trying to solve a murder, we'll
we'll make that happen, and we just want people to
come forward.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So any idea when you're sort of when you'll have
a better understanding of whether you will get the go
ahead for that incentive or not.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I imagine it will be within the fortnight so and when
that's made, you'll see the detectives come out and announce
it more formally.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, it's Look, it's just a terrible situation for her
family and that not knowing it would just be absolutely horrible.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
Yeah. Absolutely, And I can assure the community our detectives
are working tirelessly. Obviously we still not have recovered Angie's body,
so there's a lot of work to be done for
the closure of the family, and our thoughts are with them.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Absolutely, Look, there has been so much on it. You've
hit the ground running, haven't you acting in the job?
When are you going to find out whether you've got
it or not?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Do we know?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
No, I'd say probably within the next couple of months.
There should be announcement whether it's me or someone else,
but I think you know the process is underway and
i'd say a couple of months.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Well, we're all waiting to see exactly when that announcement
does get made. No doubt we'll get some further info
from from the government at some point in the near future.
Before I let you go though. Coffee with a cop.
That was something that police started doing a few months ago.
How's that been going and when's the next one?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Huge success. So it's every Friday fortnightly across the territory,
different locations, really huge turnout across the territory at La
La Springs, Tenant Creek, Catherine Nightcliff, Casuina, Palmerston, so various
locations across the territory. Really good engagement. We probably need
to do better at actually broadcasting a little bit earlier.
Before we actually do it.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
You might get mobbed, you might have heaps of people
there ready to have a coffee with you.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
That's what we want, Katie. We want to hear people.
We want to see what's going on and let's see
what's around on the ground. It's really important we look
after the community and we need to know how people
feel so we can do our job better.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well, if you let us know a couple of days
in advance, We're more than happy to let our listeners
know when it is happening, because I think it's really
important that people get the opportunity to, you know, to
be able to interact with our police in a positive
way as well, and to be able to let you
guys know what's going on in the community.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
That's fantastic I'll take.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, definitely, no no worries at all.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Well, Acting Police Commissioner Michael Murphy always good to catch
up with you.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Thank you very much for your time. I know you're
incredibly busy.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Thank you,
Now joining me in the studio is the acting Police Commissioner,
Michael Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good morning to you, Katie. Thanks so much for joining
us this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Now we know that obviously domestic violence issues across the
Northern Territory have been in the spotlight through the numbers
that were revealed by the Territory Police, but also through
the coronial which has been underway.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm keen to find out from you how.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Are these DV incidents looking at this point in time.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
They still consume a lot of our time and priorities.
Obviously it keeps me up at night the amount of
dvs we're still encountering. I explained that just overnight in
itself across the territory, we had ninety five calls to
the Joint Emergency Communication Center asking for assistance it's DV related,
which is a significant number.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Across ninety five in one night.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Ninety five. Yeah, and when the last couple of nights
has been tracking at eighty three and seventy six, so
significantly high. One of the highest job priorities we have,
and it's each incident is a priority, and it obviously
consumes a lot of time our offices on the front
line corresponding across the territory in our remote stations twenty
four to seven.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
They're phenomenal numbers for all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, Look, it hasn't abated since COVID either, it's remained high,
and there's a lot of work that we're doing, but
across government and non government organizations around the prevention space
as well, you know, it's about safe spaces, education, change
behavior programs, what that all looks like as well, because
the prevention, the investment in prevention is really significant to
(01:28):
protect women and children who are predominantly the victims in
this space.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Well, and it seems like the police are there right
at the pointy end, and I get that, and I
get that there you know that there could be more
that is done, you know, like more quickly, and that
people could criticize the police. And I'm very cognizant that
there is a coronial underway. So I don't want to
go you know, into that or to sort of you know,
to preempt anything there. But it does seem as though
(01:54):
we could be doing more in the territory as well
in terms of you know, sort of stopping this stuff
before it gets to that point.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah. Absolutely, Katie. I think the investment too is we
see a lot of vulnerable people who are intoxicated that
often leads to domestic violence or all location. Because we
see a high engagement when we see about sixty six
percent of dvs. Seventy percent our cohols involved. So when
we see reports of any social behavior coming in about
(02:22):
people in public places, usually it's public places, it's intimate partners,
it's intoxication that leads to violence, and sadly we saw
that in ourther Springs with a homicide in recent days,
which is you know, that's the engagement about vulnerble people,
the control around the liquor restrictions, how we manage that,
how we look at the family safety framework to help
(02:43):
victims and change our focus to a victim focus as well,
so we can look at recidivism across victims to protect
them and their children into the future.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Well, and we do, as you've just touched on there
in Our Springs on the weekend of fifty one year
old man's allegedly well allegedly murdered he's.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Forty seven year old partner at a bush camp.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Is there much further detail at this point in time,
or much further that has happened from that side of things.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Not at this time. He's before the court now and
obviously he'll go through the justice process to answer for
his conduct.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
And those liquor restrictions you touched on those, do you
see like in Alice Springs, do you see that there
is a decrease in the volume of domestic violence school
outs or the number of domestic violence incidents on the
days where there are those liquor restrictions.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, So, having been in other springs and talking to
the officers there who actually see and feel actually what's occurring,
there has been a significant change in activity and their
response across the dry days, which are the two days
of week Monday and Tuesday. The restriction in hours actually
allows them to do and you can see the more
proactive policing instead of just a full reactive space. They
(03:49):
still are incredibly busy, but since the introduction of the
restrictions in January, we saw a downturn in domestic violence,
We saw a downturn in youth disturbances, We saw a
downturn in social public disorder, We saw downturn in the
requirement of Saint John's to respond to violence, and hospital presentations.
So it's all there, and it took a sharp decline
(04:10):
and out sort of fairly stable. And I've explained that,
you know, the first three months of the restrictions allowed
a real significant impact, and then the next three months
is the evaluation process about what should continue. And will
recommend that the liquor restrictions continue because it really gives
us room to breathe in the community, room to breathe
and actually continue to evaluate and make a difference to
(04:32):
public safety.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So the Northern Territory Police, from your perspective as the
acting commissioner, that is your recommendation that those LIGA restrictions
do continue.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
It is yes.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Do you think that they need to be broadened across
the territory to other locations.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I think that's open for discussion. I think we can
probably look at and there's a lot of work on
the way too with the review of the Liquor Act
and those discussions about how we can do things smarter
as well through the band drinkers registered, through some technology
tools to help not just the heavy lifting through police officers,
but what fundamental technology and assistance to reduce crime, especially
alcohol related crime with a territory perspective, but we've also
(05:07):
got a pretty keen focus on secondary supply from in state.
So we still see some flow of supply from South
Australia and Queensland, so we work with counterparts there to
try and reduce that opportunity as well.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
How do you reckon we might be able to use
the BDR a little bit differently so that you know,
so that.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
It could be more effective.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Because even you sort of think to yourself sometimes like
are there people making a number of purchases across the
day and then going and on selling And I know
that that's something you guys be looking into, but like,
give is that something that we can do more efficiently?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Absolutely? So, if you've got a person that's going across
the Greater Daan area and to visiting ten bottle shops
and buying six bottles of wine, if somehow we can
detect that and feed into a high risk area and
we can focus our energy on that person because they're
obviously not consuming that much wine every day. We know
there are secondary supplies occurring across the graded Owen area
(06:00):
Northern Territory from people buying alcoholic different outlets. It's better
controlled across tenant Creek, Catherine and Alice, because we've got
the police auxiliary liquor inspectors who can detect similar behaviors
but in dar and it's a little bit different. So
technology footprint to identify people who are procuring alcohol more
often than not at what volume will allow us to
sharpen our focus on the harm they might be creating
(06:22):
in community.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So where are you at that?
Speaker 1 (06:24):
You know, we sort of looking at that technology footprint
and how it might work.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
So we're talking with obviously the Minister of Alcohol Policies,
Offers and Licensing as well to look at some ideas
to be innovative in our thinking and what technology we
can use to identify people who might be a problem
to the territory because they're the people who are exploiting
usually vulnerable people and creating harm in the community. That
(06:49):
can then reduce our requirement for demand and response by
reducing anti social behavior and violence. We see, how.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Far away do you reckon we might be from seeing
some of like from seeing the used a bit differently.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I don't know, OKAYI I wouldn't have an answer for that,
But from my perspective, the sooner the better, because there'll
just be a tool we can use across government to
help us target some problem people.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Yeah, and look, I suppose from my perspective, I think
to myself, well, why you know, like, why not if
we're using this tool already, if we can use it
more effectively so it actually makes more of an impact,
then surely that's a good thing to do. And surely
if it can assist the police with their work, then
you know that's helpful.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah. Absolutely, And we know that we see it every
day that liquor is a contributor to an enabler for
harm and you know, unlawful activity. So anything we can
do differently to increase public safety, and you know it's
bigger picture too. The Northern Territory has been in the
spotlight a fair a bit lately for all the wrong reasons,
with some of the crime and any social issues. So
(07:47):
if we can change that narrative and make it a
safer place and make sure it's inviting and prosperous for
people to visit, that's going to be great.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Absolutely, I do want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I spoke to a listener before the show this morning
who had a DV incident outside his house on the weekend.
He called police at about seven twenty on Saturday. The
police didn't attend for around an hour. Now he ended
up helping that woman, as I understand it, and dropping
her home. Look, I know that you know that people
feel as though the police are doing a really good
(08:19):
job under tough circumstances. But you know, with people reporting
these incidents, it does seem as though they are making
those reports but potentially there's not enough police or you know,
it's hard for police to be able to get out
to everything, particularly when you look at ninety five incidents
or ninety five call outs in one night on DV incidents.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
I mean those numbers are astronomical.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah, the demand is quite high on us at the moment.
And firstly, can I thank your listener for actually engaging
and helping that woman who was in need at the time.
We triage and prioritize the response through the join Emenciti
communication center. Our women and men across the police force
working tirele see twenty four to seven doing in credit,
job balancing DV amongst other things too. You know, we
(09:04):
saw some incidents Stephen yesterday where we had a female
presenter knife at a bottle shop in Darwen that was
reported to us within eight minutes, she was arrested. She's
now before the court. We had a burglary at char
last night, so that was reported through an alarm system
and our CCTV operators basically track three offenders to premises
(09:28):
and arrest of them very promptly. So there's lots of
other things going on as well. DV is a priority.
So it's about the call center. It gets thirty five
thousand calls a month. How do we reduce the consumption
there by smarter reporting, maybe online so callers can have
more time to promptly answer calls and then dispatch which
(09:49):
plugs in. Then to our recruitment footprint about the Instead
of all the people in the squads staying in or
going outside of Darwin to remote locations, there's going to
be some staying back in Darwen now to bolster the force.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Here here, right, So keep some of those people here
in Darwin.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
So the next squad that graduates one fifty one, there'll
be thirteen officers staying. We've got forty officers starting on
the thirty first of July and a number of them
will remain indow and the bolster the force up here
as well.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Do we have enough police?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Well, we do. We've got a lot of police, like
when you look across Australia, we do. We are struggling
to meet demand at the moment and that's what's going
to be really important. And you know, the Chief Minister
and the Police Minister and the President of the Northern
Church of Police Association myself have discussed this about the
Police Resource Review, So exactly where our resources are going
for what priorities, what do we need to change, what
(10:37):
do we need to better invest in. That's going to
be really significant and now's the time to do it.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Has it begun the.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Initial conversations have We're pretty reliant upon the electronic rostering
system which is advancing through the Department of Corporate Digital
Services now, so that's going to be probably formulated by
about November, but that'll give us a bit of a
footprint about Alice Springs and Darwin which can inform further
conversation about resourcing in demand.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Now we've spoken to the Association president. He'd said that
it wasn't required. That you know that the electronic rosterring
wasn't required, but you reckon you do still need it
need to be able to have a look at it.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
It's going to be an important tool to help us
inform some decision making and direction. And I think there's
going to be if there's a you know, people who
were the level of independence come in with policing experience
as well. That's going to be vital to help shape
with freshetd of eyes to come in and say, hey,
what do we need to do where do we need
to do it. That's going to be really integral because
and community feedback. What are the community expectations? I mean,
that's a key part to policing, isn't it that we
(11:32):
look after the community and listen to the community and
make sure we're servicing their needs the best we can.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Now, I know you pressed for time, but I want
to just get through a couple of other things. There
was a wild incident in Catherine last week involving a
car stolen from the education precinct and driven dangerously through
town and towards the police.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Firstly, how are those police.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Officers are probably shaken and you know it's quite alarming.
That's a really the second time we've seen a stolen
motor vehicle target police. We saw all the other stolen cars.
Two stolen cars crash into both cars riding off our
police cars some months ago. But this car's crashed in,
done some damage to the wheel archers inside the police car.
Our officers are uninjured, thankfully, and we've since arrested a
(12:15):
sixteen year old in Catherine who's now facing court.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
It's pretty wild.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Like there was an incident in Mount Isa as well
last week where there was a car stolen in that
community and it was driven around. It was then targeting
cars and kids allegedly as well at.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
One of the schools.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
It does seem as though across the nation we've got
a bit of an issue right now. And I don't
know the age of the people that stole this vehicle
in Catherine last week, but where we've got this situation
where they're stealing cars. You and I have spoken about
it before, they're sharing stuff then on TikTok. It's just
unbelievable and it is so incredibly frustrating, I think, to
the community because it's putting everyone in danger, the police,
(12:54):
the community, everybody.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
It's incredibly dangerous and you're right, and it's a national
trend that's occurring. We see it in outh Australia, Melbourne,
New South Wales, Queensland, you know, Northern Queensland, Western Australia.
They do monitor each other's accounts and they want notoriety
and that's a big thing that start them on social
media and that's where the Safety Commissioner can come in
and actually wind some stuff up and just put it
(13:16):
in the rubbish bin so it's not shared more widely. So,
but the behavior here we saw in Catherine. You know,
we've got tools to disable cars through the tire spikes
and those types of things, but you know, it'd be
great if that behavior didn't occur because it just puts
the public and you know, our officers at risk in
trying to stop the behavior.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Did we see much of a flare up over the
school holidays when it came to the crime, No, not
at all.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
So there was actually some really good planning across the
territory from police, but a significant investment across government about programs.
So just that engagement. Alice Springs school holidays have been
really good as well. So yeah, look, I think it
was the forward planning and just that preparation and we're
always planning, so we're planning for the next school holidays.
Obviously important messages schools back. So when you look at roads, safety,
(13:58):
look out for the schools, owns, look out for our kids.
Drive to the conditions and look after yourselves and pay
attention when you're driving staff your mobile.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, absolutely make sure that you do stay safe around
the schools.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Hey, I just thought of it while you're speaking.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Then. Last time you were on, we spoke about the
knife crime strategy as well. Has there been any update
with that, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
So we'll probably look at announcement next week around the
advancement of what we're doing with some wandering and search
provisions and bail and weapons control acts and that type
of stuff. So it's really progressing well. Obviously government's going
to obviously be informed and make a determination and there'll
be some announcements in the coming weeks.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
All right, we'll keep an eye out for that.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
On another matter, I understand that police are considering a
reward as well for information for missing mother Angie Fuller,
who disappeared while traveling from Darwin to Alice Springs about
six months ago.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Yeah, so Angie basically ninth of January. She went missing
the eleventh of January, it was reported to police. We
did a pretty intensive two week operation search and rescue operation.
After some other ever and facts were obtained, it's now
turned to a homicide inquiry. The Major Crime have got
that inquiry. You would have seen there's been a request
for information around two vehicles. There was a silver pulsar
(15:11):
with empty plates and a sort of a camouflage Dayatsu
full will drive without a canopy. We're really interested to
know where those cars were between the ninth and twelfth
of January, somewhere around the Tanner Mines turn off with
the Stuart Highway. Andrew was in a red pulsar. I
believe it was a pulsar. But we have put a
(15:33):
submission up for a reward for two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to the Budget Review Subcommittee. So when if
that's approved, and I'm fairly confident it will be. What
that enables is educating the public and we've got obviously
some persons of interest in relation to this investigation. If
people come forward and offer information that leads to an
(15:53):
arrest or a prosecution, then they can access some of
that funds and it's dependent upon obviously some decision making
through the DPPM police about what allocation of funds that is.
But we know that money is a really good incentive,
and especially when we're trying to solve a murder, we'll
we'll make that happen, and we just want people to
come forward.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So any idea when you're sort of when you'll have
a better understanding of whether you will get the go
ahead for that incentive or not.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I imagine it will be within the fortnight so and when
that's made, you'll see the detectives come out and announce
it more formally.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, it's Look, it's just a terrible situation for her
family and that not knowing it would just be absolutely horrible.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
Yeah. Absolutely, And I can assure the community our detectives
are working tirelessly. Obviously we still not have recovered Angie's body,
so there's a lot of work to be done for
the closure of the family, and our thoughts are with them.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Absolutely, Look, there has been so much on it. You've
hit the ground running, haven't you acting in the job?
When are you going to find out whether you've got
it or not?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Do we know?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
No, I'd say probably within the next couple of months.
There should be announcement whether it's me or someone else,
but I think you know the process is underway and
i'd say a couple of months.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Well, we're all waiting to see exactly when that announcement
does get made. No doubt we'll get some further info
from from the government at some point in the near future.
Before I let you go though. Coffee with a cop.
That was something that police started doing a few months ago.
How's that been going and when's the next one?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Huge success. So it's every Friday fortnightly across the territory,
different locations, really huge turnout across the territory at La
La Springs, Tenant Creek, Catherine Nightcliff, Casuina, Palmerston, so various
locations across the territory. Really good engagement. We probably need
to do better at actually broadcasting a little bit earlier.
Before we actually do it.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
You might get mobbed, you might have heaps of people
there ready to have a coffee with you.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
That's what we want, Katie. We want to hear people.
We want to see what's going on and let's see
what's around on the ground. It's really important we look
after the community and we need to know how people
feel so we can do our job better.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well, if you let us know a couple of days
in advance, We're more than happy to let our listeners
know when it is happening, because I think it's really
important that people get the opportunity to, you know, to
be able to interact with our police in a positive
way as well, and to be able to let you
guys know what's going on in the community.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
That's fantastic I'll take.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, definitely, no no worries at all.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Well, Acting Police Commissioner Michael Murphy always good to catch
up with you.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Thank you very much for your time. I know you're
incredibly busy.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Thank you,
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