Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know the Northern Territory Police Association is once again
raising concerns about police watchhouses being at full capacity, impacting officers'
ability to do their jobs. We've known for quite some
time that corrections are indeed understrained, but it's understood that
the Darwin Watchhouse is solely being used for corrections prisoners
at the moment, with the Palmerston Watchhouse used by both
(00:23):
corrections and police. Now the Association president Nathan Finn joins
me in the studio right now.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning Finny, Good morning Kattie, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Thanks so much for joining us today. Now tell me
what is the situation with the watch houses at this
point in time.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
So the situation is currently on Monday, I was contacted
by members of the police force saying that they had
inability to lodge our prisoners into our custody facility due
to the demands being placed on that facility by the
correction's overflow prisoners.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So does that mean the Darwin watch House or both
watch houses that is.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
The Parmeston watchess are were only operating the Parmeston Watchause
for the whole of Darwen area at the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
And we can't get people in there at the moment,
that's correct.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So we had police prisoners we had to wait till
other people had been released before we could release them
and put them into our custody. We're at capacity, Katie,
and this is putting great strain on our members of
the police force that obviously working in that environment to
start with. But as of this morning, we had ninety
eight corrections prisoners in that watchhouse. It's not built for
a permanent facility for the corrections prisoners. There's no where
(01:26):
to exercise, there's no where to move. That's placing severe
risk on the operational staffing and that in that capacity.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
So Finny, let me get this really clear in my head.
So ninety eight corrections, you know, like prisoners in the
Palmerston Watchhouse.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Talk of our prisoners as well that we've got in custody.
So we've got a situation where we're running out of space.
So any arrests that we have are potentially going to
be turned away if we don't actually do something about
this now. Going to the government and speaking to the
Chief Minister on Monday night and speaking to the Minister
for Corrections mister Mayley. As of recently this morning again
and trying to find solutions. I understand that the CLP
(02:03):
have inherited this problem. I understand that this has been
a problem for a number of years that they've been
passed on to. They are doing everything they possibly can
to make sure expediate the openings of beds, but they
also need staff corrections. Are feeling sorry for corrections because
they've got this influx of numbers. I believe it's up
around two hundred prisoners since the CLP where all the
bail laws actually come into place and the great awareness
(02:25):
is being placed on these people into custody.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Well, this is the thing we are expecting that there's
going to be more people going into prison. Can I
just so there are a lot of our listeners are
going to probably be feeling like I am at the
moment where I'm going, Okay, I remember that you know
that our watch houses were quite full with corrections, you know,
with corrections prisoners. But so we're in a situation right
now where the watch house in Darwin is not being
(02:50):
used by police at all.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
It's not being used by police, Katie. That's correct. There's
from what I'm being told this morning, and I've spoken
to Ken Middlebrook as well from the Minister's office again
this morning. Who can is around fifty in the day
on watchhouse that's solely operated by correction stuff, that's no
police footprint whatsoever. The only one with the joint facility
is the Parmesan Watchhouse. They currently have ninety eight prisoners
(03:12):
there on top of our prisons as well. We had
one hundred and thirteen people in custody there this morning
and we got limited sALS to put any new people into.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
What kind of strain is this placing then on the
Northern Territory Police if you're in a situation like we
were in. So from what you've said earlier in the week,
the Northern Territory Police couldn't actually take prisoners then to
the Palmiston or couldn't take you know, those that had
broken the law to the watchouse on Monday.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, So when it starts affecting our police operations, I
have to step in and I have to say something.
I'm trying to work with the government to expediate additional beds.
They've promised me an initial thirty six beds at the
bar correctional facility by the end of the week to
alleviate some further pressures. But this is going to escalate
as we move into Christmas and we move into legislation
changes coming forward. The moment is that correct and I'm
(04:00):
feeling sorry for corrections. They haven't got the staff to
maintain this level of prisoners either. Then it's something needs
to actually change and needs to change now for the
positive to make sure that we can do what we
need to do as police because the community expects that,
and the community's got that expectation that if someone is
doing something wrong, we can lock them up absolutely before
the court.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
So finny what happens in a situation like the one
that we were in earlier in the week where there
wasn't capacity to then take them to the Palmerston Watchhouse?
Where are they being taken?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
So a lot of the issues and a lot of
the delays are with the digital program and the judicial services.
I've been advised that we're looking at extra hours for
running courts, extra courts, et cetera. We've got a huge
backlog of a remand prisoners they're they're they're maintained when
they are in remand they're placed at a medium or
high risk in the prison system. Which corrections can obviously
go into that further, but we're running out of beds
(04:49):
in that medium to high section. We've got plenty of
low beds available in those in those in the in
the in the correction facilities, but that's where're at. The
remand prisons automatically go to that because they're not assessed.
They're not actually they're on remand so we need to
get these people before court.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
So just on on the situation where where police weren't
able to take them to the watchhouse on Monday in Palmerston,
where are they then going if someone's broken the law.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That they weren't actually turned away Katie, they are actually
they waited there until they cared it right people from
the watchouse to the courts.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
So then that's a strain I would imagine on the police.
So what are you doing keeping them in the back
of a paddywagon or keeping them somewhere inside that's not actually.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And we're to the point where we're placing holding where
we have holding cells where their process while we bring
them into custody and process them into the watchhouse, they're
actually being held in there permanently.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So that's the level of what kind of stress is
this placing. It's clear to me it's a huge stress
on Corrections and look, I've spoken to Corrections about that.
We'll make sure that we catch up with Matthew Valley.
But from a policing perspective, what kind of stress is
that then placing on police? When the watch house is
at capacity, it's a huge risk.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Katie, and our members are identifying that a number of
them actually can't actually deal with the problem. They're actually
booking off from there, coming quite unwell because of the
stress that's being placed on them to look after these facilities.
I'm not condoning this, but again, everyone gets to their
breaking point, and unfortunately, our members are at their breaking point.
We need to have that ability to lock up who
(06:19):
we need to lock up and make sure we keep
the community safe, and that's what our members join for.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Finny, like, do you think that the reason why the
watch houses are so full, you know, not only in
terms of prisoners, but also in terms of those being arrested,
is much of that because the police have really been
targeting things like domestic violence. They've been doing you know,
what the community wants and expects.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Definitely, Katie, and we've been asked to do this for
a long long time. So I make no apologies to
anyone that there's more people in custody. Again, if they
weren't committing these offenses, they wouldn't be in custody. Our
police are there to do their job and make sure
the community is protected. And if people are committing offenses,
the community expects that they're locked up. Katie.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So to our listeners this morning that are hearing this,
and they're going, goodness mate, like a wee in a
situation we you know, we cannot get people into the
watch house because it's bursting at the steam.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
We are getting them into the watchaut that's good that
and we're making sure that that's available with the additional
beds coming online. And then I'll reassure that the additional
beds and Alice Springs are becoming online. There's a few
moves that they need to do in respect to the
Youth facility and Alice Springs and moving the remainder of
the youths out of there up to Darwin Present enter
the Youth facility and now the women prison down and
(07:24):
Alice Springs to create that extra bed and extra backload
as well.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So you know, look, it's so clear to me, and
even after the discussions that we've been having over the
last few months, you know, Corrections are doing all that
they can to try to move you know, move prisoners
around and move things around. It's clear that you know
that they if we could have more staff that I'm
sure they would want more stuff. It's clear that we
need more police as well. But the police and Corrections
(07:48):
are doing the jobs that community you know that the
Territorians expect, and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We'll continue to do that. Katie and the government are
providing as much support as they can without magically appearing
in new custody facility. They are trying to do and
they're trying to work with us to make sure that
this pressures alleviated as soon as possible. This is unfortunately,
there's something they've inherited and that that's well known. Katie
and I feel sorry for the current Corrections Commissioner and
(08:13):
the current Corrections Minister about this taking place. But the
mess when it starts affecting our police operations, we need
to say something. We need to say something and support
our membership to make sure that they can do the
job that they need to do.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Finny, I do want to move along because there is
quite a bit going on in terms of police being assaulted. Unfortunately,
so we've seen a situation where things appear to have
flared up again in Alice Springs. One incident on the weekend,
a group of views allegedly threw rocks at a police
and tried to ram police vehicles in stolen cars. Are
(08:47):
those police okay?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Those police are They're obviously traumatized by the events. And
further to that, Katie, they were actually driven at when
they were trying to deploy the tie deflation devisors to
the point.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Where so they're out of the car to put those times, yes.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
And they've driven at the person. He's had to remove
his firearm and point of firearm in the direction because
he was in fear of his life and he's safety
at that point in time.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
So this was on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
This is just on the weekend Allie Springs, and unfortunately
we talk about this time and time again. The youths
are out of control there in Elie Springs. We're trying
to do everything we possibly can. We've got more police
on the road and Alice Springs what we do in
daw and so that gives you an example of the
level of crime we're dealing within Elie Springs and the
surrounding communities.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
How side deflation device, someone's driving at you to the
point where you're feeling as though you've got to pull
the firearm out because that's your only option.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yeah, definitely, And that plays on your mind as well, Cardie,
if you do have to pull that trigger. Having been
in that situation a few times as well across my career,
it's something that plays on your mind for a long
long time and the danger that you're potentially you're going
to be placed in simply doing your job and protecting
the community. But that alone, that assault in Elie Springs
was only obviously the tip of the iceberg. The one
(09:57):
and Melocarpey the week before, where the behavior towards police
was animal like behavior. Biding an officer and kicking you
into his unconscious is not exceptplicating in anyone's mind. We
also had that hasn't been released just yet. We had
earlier to sold at Timber Creek earlier this week, where
the two officers went to a resturant offender. At that
point in time, they're thrown a hot cup of tea
in the members' faces and cause burns to their faces
(10:18):
and receive treatment from those burns as well. Are they okay,
They're okay. We're in contact with them. That hasn't been
released to the media just yet.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Are they What kind of burns are we talking here?
Are they severe burns?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
The severe enough for cause redness to the face area.
He's lucky he had to see sunglasses on at the time,
so it hasn't gone into his eyes around his eyes area.
But yeah, not a good situation. They're just trying to
do their job, but our guys need to be protected
and these people placed before the courts.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
It's pretty horrifying when you look at some of what
is going on, some of the behavior towards the Northern
Territory Police. I mean, what do you think is going
on here? Finny? Like, do you think that we've got
a generation of young people who've got no respect for
the police. What do you think is happening?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Just no respect for the police, Curti, it's respect for anyone, anyone.
We've seen the administ x administrator in Alice Springs House
get broken into last week as well. Any's fearful situation
that's been reported through the many yeares today. There's no
respect for anyone. There's no respect for their elders, there's
no respect even for their fellow friends or their mates.
There's no respect whatsoever. They show their total disregard for
(11:23):
anyone in society, and they feel free to do whatever
they feel like they don't want to do.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
What are the members in Alice Springs saying to you
at the moment, all right across the board? I mean,
you're talking about something happening there in Timber Creek, You're
talking about an incident in Milicarpady. You're then talking about
that incident in Alice Springs. All of those are on
I would imagine what would be considered quite a severe
scale in terms of what's unfolded. How are they.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
They the members struggle and the members. As soon as
you are assaulted, there's a lot of things that go
through your mind, Cadie, in the mental anguish that this
places you in, especially if it's contamination, it's blood tests,
et cetera, if you are bitten, the results for waiting
for that, the pressure that it places on you, and
the doubt it places on you in your mind when
you go to arrest the next person, whether you think
that's going to happen again is unacceptable, Codie, and these
(12:09):
people need to be held to response responsible for that.
Our members struggle with it and have continued to struggle
and will continue to struggle. But unfortunately Allie Springs does
get a fair bit of media attention. Just say this
is right across the Northern Territory and you'll see, as
we said, timber Creek, Miller Carpady, these are communities that
well known for their community harmony, their community, their good
(12:30):
community spirit towards police. Unfortunately, we're seeing this target of
police right across the Northern Territory and it's totally unacceptable.
Our members aren't going to put up with this.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Nathan Finn, president of the Northern Territory Police Association. We
will have to leave it there. Really appreciate your time.
We'll probably talk to you before Christmas, so I won't
say Merry Christmas just maybe I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Sure we shouldn't just yet. We'll leave that. I'm sure
there'll be something else that comes up, or there are
be extensions of what we've spoken about today spoken about
again in the media. But i'd like to think think
obviously you guys and your support of our police officers
for a long long time now, Katie and I like
to thank our members out in the street as well
that that's absolutely the best possible job that they can
(13:09):
best possibly do right across the Northern Territory to make
sure our community is safe and to make sure that
the new government is supported in the legislation changes they're
making and we're trying to do the best we possibly can,
so please community bear with us. We will get there.
The police force are thinking about how could they live
in the community coating. They want to be supported and
(13:30):
they want to see it safer community as well for
their families.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Well, you know, in a lot of these situations we're
talking about, like a lot of the police officers that
I know, mums and dads, the sports that I go to,
you know, they are genuine part, a genuine part of
the Northern Territory community. They want this place to thrive.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Right definitely, and that's what we're here to do and
to make sure that happens is we need to make
sure that the decisions being made by the people in
power are the right decisions being made for all of
the Territorians. And I believe they are or were moving
in that direction.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Nathan Finn, we'll talk to you against So thanks Matte,
thank you
We know the Northern Territory Police Association is once again
raising concerns about police watchhouses being at full capacity, impacting officers'
ability to do their jobs. We've known for quite some
time that corrections are indeed understrained, but it's understood that
the Darwin Watchhouse is solely being used for corrections prisoners
at the moment, with the Palmerston Watchhouse used by both
(00:23):
corrections and police. Now the Association president Nathan Finn joins
me in the studio right now.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning Finny, Good morning Kattie, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Thanks so much for joining us today. Now tell me
what is the situation with the watch houses at this
point in time.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
So the situation is currently on Monday, I was contacted
by members of the police force saying that they had
inability to lodge our prisoners into our custody facility due
to the demands being placed on that facility by the
correction's overflow prisoners.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So does that mean the Darwin watch House or both
watch houses that is.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
The Parmeston watchess are were only operating the Parmeston Watchause
for the whole of Darwen area at the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
And we can't get people in there at the moment,
that's correct.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So we had police prisoners we had to wait till
other people had been released before we could release them
and put them into our custody. We're at capacity, Katie,
and this is putting great strain on our members of
the police force that obviously working in that environment to
start with. But as of this morning, we had ninety
eight corrections prisoners in that watchhouse. It's not built for
a permanent facility for the corrections prisoners. There's no where
(01:26):
to exercise, there's no where to move. That's placing severe
risk on the operational staffing and that in that capacity.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
So Finny, let me get this really clear in my head.
So ninety eight corrections, you know, like prisoners in the
Palmerston Watchhouse.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Talk of our prisoners as well that we've got in custody.
So we've got a situation where we're running out of space.
So any arrests that we have are potentially going to
be turned away if we don't actually do something about
this now. Going to the government and speaking to the
Chief Minister on Monday night and speaking to the Minister
for Corrections mister Mayley. As of recently this morning again
and trying to find solutions. I understand that the CLP
(02:03):
have inherited this problem. I understand that this has been
a problem for a number of years that they've been
passed on to. They are doing everything they possibly can
to make sure expediate the openings of beds, but they
also need staff corrections. Are feeling sorry for corrections because
they've got this influx of numbers. I believe it's up
around two hundred prisoners since the CLP where all the
bail laws actually come into place and the great awareness
(02:25):
is being placed on these people into custody.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Well, this is the thing we are expecting that there's
going to be more people going into prison. Can I
just so there are a lot of our listeners are
going to probably be feeling like I am at the
moment where I'm going, Okay, I remember that you know
that our watch houses were quite full with corrections, you know,
with corrections prisoners. But so we're in a situation right
now where the watch house in Darwin is not being
(02:50):
used by police at all.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
It's not being used by police, Katie. That's correct. There's
from what I'm being told this morning, and I've spoken
to Ken Middlebrook as well from the Minister's office again
this morning. Who can is around fifty in the day
on watchhouse that's solely operated by correction stuff, that's no
police footprint whatsoever. The only one with the joint facility
is the Parmesan Watchhouse. They currently have ninety eight prisoners
(03:12):
there on top of our prisons as well. We had
one hundred and thirteen people in custody there this morning
and we got limited sALS to put any new people into.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
What kind of strain is this placing then on the
Northern Territory Police if you're in a situation like we
were in. So from what you've said earlier in the week,
the Northern Territory Police couldn't actually take prisoners then to
the Palmiston or couldn't take you know, those that had
broken the law to the watchouse on Monday.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, So when it starts affecting our police operations, I
have to step in and I have to say something.
I'm trying to work with the government to expediate additional beds.
They've promised me an initial thirty six beds at the
bar correctional facility by the end of the week to
alleviate some further pressures. But this is going to escalate
as we move into Christmas and we move into legislation
changes coming forward. The moment is that correct and I'm
(04:00):
feeling sorry for corrections. They haven't got the staff to
maintain this level of prisoners either. Then it's something needs
to actually change and needs to change now for the
positive to make sure that we can do what we
need to do as police because the community expects that,
and the community's got that expectation that if someone is
doing something wrong, we can lock them up absolutely before
the court.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
So finny what happens in a situation like the one
that we were in earlier in the week where there
wasn't capacity to then take them to the Palmerston Watchhouse?
Where are they being taken?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
So a lot of the issues and a lot of
the delays are with the digital program and the judicial services.
I've been advised that we're looking at extra hours for
running courts, extra courts, et cetera. We've got a huge
backlog of a remand prisoners they're they're they're maintained when
they are in remand they're placed at a medium or
high risk in the prison system. Which corrections can obviously
go into that further, but we're running out of beds
(04:49):
in that medium to high section. We've got plenty of
low beds available in those in those in the in
the in the correction facilities, but that's where're at. The
remand prisons automatically go to that because they're not assessed.
They're not actually they're on remand so we need to
get these people before court.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
So just on on the situation where where police weren't
able to take them to the watchhouse on Monday in Palmerston,
where are they then going if someone's broken the law.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That they weren't actually turned away Katie, they are actually
they waited there until they cared it right people from
the watchouse to the courts.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
So then that's a strain I would imagine on the police.
So what are you doing keeping them in the back
of a paddywagon or keeping them somewhere inside that's not actually.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And we're to the point where we're placing holding where
we have holding cells where their process while we bring
them into custody and process them into the watchhouse, they're
actually being held in there permanently.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
So that's the level of what kind of stress is
this placing. It's clear to me it's a huge stress
on Corrections and look, I've spoken to Corrections about that.
We'll make sure that we catch up with Matthew Valley.
But from a policing perspective, what kind of stress is
that then placing on police? When the watch house is
at capacity, it's a huge risk.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Katie, and our members are identifying that a number of
them actually can't actually deal with the problem. They're actually
booking off from there, coming quite unwell because of the
stress that's being placed on them to look after these facilities.
I'm not condoning this, but again, everyone gets to their
breaking point, and unfortunately, our members are at their breaking point.
We need to have that ability to lock up who
(06:19):
we need to lock up and make sure we keep
the community safe, and that's what our members join for.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Finny, like, do you think that the reason why the
watch houses are so full, you know, not only in
terms of prisoners, but also in terms of those being arrested,
is much of that because the police have really been
targeting things like domestic violence. They've been doing you know,
what the community wants and expects.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Definitely, Katie, and we've been asked to do this for
a long long time. So I make no apologies to
anyone that there's more people in custody. Again, if they
weren't committing these offenses, they wouldn't be in custody. Our
police are there to do their job and make sure
the community is protected. And if people are committing offenses,
the community expects that they're locked up. Katie.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So to our listeners this morning that are hearing this,
and they're going, goodness mate, like a wee in a
situation we you know, we cannot get people into the
watch house because it's bursting at the steam.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
We are getting them into the watchaut that's good that
and we're making sure that that's available with the additional
beds coming online. And then I'll reassure that the additional
beds and Alice Springs are becoming online. There's a few
moves that they need to do in respect to the
Youth facility and Alice Springs and moving the remainder of
the youths out of there up to Darwin Present enter
the Youth facility and now the women prison down and
(07:24):
Alice Springs to create that extra bed and extra backload
as well.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So you know, look, it's so clear to me, and
even after the discussions that we've been having over the
last few months, you know, Corrections are doing all that
they can to try to move you know, move prisoners
around and move things around. It's clear that you know
that they if we could have more staff that I'm
sure they would want more stuff. It's clear that we
need more police as well. But the police and Corrections
(07:48):
are doing the jobs that community you know that the
Territorians expect, and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We'll continue to do that. Katie and the government are
providing as much support as they can without magically appearing
in new custody facility. They are trying to do and
they're trying to work with us to make sure that
this pressures alleviated as soon as possible. This is unfortunately,
there's something they've inherited and that that's well known. Katie
and I feel sorry for the current Corrections Commissioner and
(08:13):
the current Corrections Minister about this taking place. But the
mess when it starts affecting our police operations, we need
to say something. We need to say something and support
our membership to make sure that they can do the
job that they need to do.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Finny, I do want to move along because there is
quite a bit going on in terms of police being assaulted. Unfortunately,
so we've seen a situation where things appear to have
flared up again in Alice Springs. One incident on the weekend,
a group of views allegedly threw rocks at a police
and tried to ram police vehicles in stolen cars. Are
(08:47):
those police okay?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Those police are They're obviously traumatized by the events. And
further to that, Katie, they were actually driven at when
they were trying to deploy the tie deflation devisors to
the point.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Where so they're out of the car to put those times, yes.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
And they've driven at the person. He's had to remove
his firearm and point of firearm in the direction because
he was in fear of his life and he's safety
at that point in time.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
So this was on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
This is just on the weekend Allie Springs, and unfortunately
we talk about this time and time again. The youths
are out of control there in Elie Springs. We're trying
to do everything we possibly can. We've got more police
on the road and Alice Springs what we do in
daw and so that gives you an example of the
level of crime we're dealing within Elie Springs and the
surrounding communities.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
How side deflation device, someone's driving at you to the
point where you're feeling as though you've got to pull
the firearm out because that's your only option.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yeah, definitely, And that plays on your mind as well, Cardie,
if you do have to pull that trigger. Having been
in that situation a few times as well across my career,
it's something that plays on your mind for a long
long time and the danger that you're potentially you're going
to be placed in simply doing your job and protecting
the community. But that alone, that assault in Elie Springs
was only obviously the tip of the iceberg. The one
(09:57):
and Melocarpey the week before, where the behavior towards police
was animal like behavior. Biding an officer and kicking you
into his unconscious is not exceptplicating in anyone's mind. We
also had that hasn't been released just yet. We had
earlier to sold at Timber Creek earlier this week, where
the two officers went to a resturant offender. At that
point in time, they're thrown a hot cup of tea
in the members' faces and cause burns to their faces
(10:18):
and receive treatment from those burns as well. Are they okay,
They're okay. We're in contact with them. That hasn't been
released to the media just yet.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Are they What kind of burns are we talking here?
Are they severe burns?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
The severe enough for cause redness to the face area.
He's lucky he had to see sunglasses on at the time,
so it hasn't gone into his eyes around his eyes area.
But yeah, not a good situation. They're just trying to
do their job, but our guys need to be protected
and these people placed before the courts.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
It's pretty horrifying when you look at some of what
is going on, some of the behavior towards the Northern
Territory Police. I mean, what do you think is going
on here? Finny? Like, do you think that we've got
a generation of young people who've got no respect for
the police. What do you think is happening?
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Just no respect for the police, Curti, it's respect for anyone, anyone.
We've seen the administ x administrator in Alice Springs House
get broken into last week as well. Any's fearful situation
that's been reported through the many yeares today. There's no
respect for anyone. There's no respect for their elders, there's
no respect even for their fellow friends or their mates.
There's no respect whatsoever. They show their total disregard for
(11:23):
anyone in society, and they feel free to do whatever
they feel like they don't want to do.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
What are the members in Alice Springs saying to you
at the moment, all right across the board? I mean,
you're talking about something happening there in Timber Creek, You're
talking about an incident in Milicarpady. You're then talking about
that incident in Alice Springs. All of those are on
I would imagine what would be considered quite a severe
scale in terms of what's unfolded. How are they.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
They the members struggle and the members. As soon as
you are assaulted, there's a lot of things that go
through your mind, Cadie, in the mental anguish that this
places you in, especially if it's contamination, it's blood tests,
et cetera, if you are bitten, the results for waiting
for that, the pressure that it places on you, and
the doubt it places on you in your mind when
you go to arrest the next person, whether you think
that's going to happen again is unacceptable, Codie, and these
(12:09):
people need to be held to response responsible for that.
Our members struggle with it and have continued to struggle
and will continue to struggle. But unfortunately Allie Springs does
get a fair bit of media attention. Just say this
is right across the Northern Territory and you'll see, as
we said, timber Creek, Miller Carpady, these are communities that
well known for their community harmony, their community, their good
(12:30):
community spirit towards police. Unfortunately, we're seeing this target of
police right across the Northern Territory and it's totally unacceptable.
Our members aren't going to put up with this.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Nathan Finn, president of the Northern Territory Police Association. We
will have to leave it there. Really appreciate your time.
We'll probably talk to you before Christmas, so I won't
say Merry Christmas just maybe I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Sure we shouldn't just yet. We'll leave that. I'm sure
there'll be something else that comes up, or there are
be extensions of what we've spoken about today spoken about
again in the media. But i'd like to think think
obviously you guys and your support of our police officers
for a long long time now, Katie and I like
to thank our members out in the street as well
that that's absolutely the best possible job that they can
(13:09):
best possibly do right across the Northern Territory to make
sure our community is safe and to make sure that
the new government is supported in the legislation changes they're
making and we're trying to do the best we possibly can,
so please community bear with us. We will get there.
The police force are thinking about how could they live
in the community coating. They want to be supported and
(13:30):
they want to see it safer community as well for
their families.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Well, you know, in a lot of these situations we're
talking about, like a lot of the police officers that
I know, mums and dads, the sports that I go to,
you know, they are genuine part, a genuine part of
the Northern Territory community. They want this place to thrive.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Right definitely, and that's what we're here to do and
to make sure that happens is we need to make
sure that the decisions being made by the people in
power are the right decisions being made for all of
the Territorians. And I believe they are or were moving
in that direction.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Nathan Finn, we'll talk to you against So thanks Matte,
thank you
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