Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And live in the studio with us this morning is
the Police Association President Nathan Finn.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Good morning to you, Finny.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Good morning Katy, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Thanks Bete. It's good to see you now we know.
I mean, we've spoken extensively over the last week or
so about about Parliament resuming next week. It's resuming for
the first time since the Northern Territory election and the
Colp government. They're wasting no time with plans to introduce
a huge amount of legislation, including ram raid legislation lowering
(00:28):
the age of criminal responsibility Declan's Law. We also saw
some changes yesterday when it comes to public to the
public drinking Phinny. First off, I want to ask you
about the new ram raid laws.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
They're going to carry up to ten years jail.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
They're going to be debated and passed next week now.
Under this new legislation, police are going to be able
to charge offenders who have stolen a vehicle and used
it as a weapon to damage property or gain entry
to a building, the brand new offense, which attracts up
to ten years behind bars. I guess some examples of
property are business, homes, police and private vehicles.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
What does it mean for police from your perspective?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Definitely great questions to ask. And we've been pushing a
lot of this stuff for a long time, Katie, and
the letters of changes are coming through and the COLP
have been very busy since taking government and been proactive
in respect to making sure that our police are getting
what they need and also the community gets what they
need and make sure there's protections in place to make
sure that people in the community are safe and secure
(01:32):
and they're going to end up as victims, well hopefully
not as victims further on, but they're also protecting our
police and making sure that they've got the powers to
do what they actually do and help people responsible for
what they do.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And I guess Tom, we won't really know just how
well it's going to work or what the outcome might
be until we maybe see that first case go through.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Court, do you reckon, Yeah, definitely, until we see it
go through court and we see the de terrence actually
that's put in place by the court and the sentencing
for that offending. We've seen time and time again and
these vehicles being targeted by stolen motor vehicles being rammed,
objects being thrown at police vehicles, being planets thrown at
police officers. We've seen ram rated at police facilities across
the Northern Territory as well. This has to stop and
(02:12):
there needs to be at a terrence in place, and
everyone out there that's winging that they're making all these
strict changes, I ask yourself, put yourself in the situation
which some of our members are placed in every single day,
where they're placed in danger and people in the community
as well being victims of these crimes. Continually. Something needs
to change. We can't just keep going along expecting different
results from the same legislation we had well.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And the fact is, you know, like whether some of
whether some people like it or not, people voted this
way and the COLP was actually really clear in their
mandate and what they were going to do when it
came to crime. And I know that we're obviously getting
further detail of that now, but they were very upfront
right from the get go about what they were going
to do and you know they're actually following through with.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Us definitely, and again I take my hat off to them.
It's a strong care campaign. They run the overwhelming majority
of the Northern territory community voted for them on the
policies that they put forward in the election campaign. They're
coming through with these, with the commitments they made prior
to the election, and they're posting this. It's great work.
There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes,
(03:17):
too madly rush to get this into Parliament for the
next week, for the earlier the sittings, there's a lot
of work going on behind the scenes to get this
legislation up to spec to make sure. We've had a
number of meetings with the Colp government, with Leah herself
in getting these amendments through and making sure that we're
actually consulted and approached in relation to what's going on.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
How different is that for you comparatively to the former government.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
It's a remarkable difference, Katie, and I take my hat
off to them. If there's ever an issue, there's a
phone call that's made to make sure that we're happy
and police members are being supported to do the role
that they need to do and they're desperately crying out
for this. For a number of number of years, especially
around the assault of a frontline workers which is going
to be anounced today, were believed by the government, which
(04:02):
is a great step forward to making sure our members
are protected and make sure there's deterrence in place for
people that choose to commit a criminal offenses or choose
to assold a member of the police force will be
held responsible.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So are we expecting minimum mandatory sentencing for those who
assault frontline workers.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I'd hate to steal the thunder of the government, but
as a press conference coming out today, I believe this
should be a press media release coming out this morning
in respect to that as well, we're going to see
some actual deterrence for members that choose to assauld or
physically harm a police officer or spit in the face
of a police officer which causes us beutable damage to
the member both psychologically and mentally as well and.
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Speaker 1 (06:45):
You are listening to mix Fallow four nine's three sixty, Well,
won't's dry that again? I don't know what's going on
for some gremlins in the system.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I think it might be the labor party still trying
to censor me. I'm sure, Brent or Eva's out there
trying to shut me up, but.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
I think they care what you say. Now, they'll be
hoping you go.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Yeah, that's right, definitely, But obviously supporting the CLP government
too much and the new Chief Minister.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
But what a pain in the in the bottom for
both of us. There were right in the middle of
a good discussion. We're talking about mandatory sentencing for frontline
workers and you were talking about why this is required.
You didn't want to steal the Chief Minister's thunderus she's
going to be making in an announcement today.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
But it's absolutely needed.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, definitely, It's something your members have been asking for
for a long long time. We finally feel like we're
getting listened to and our members are out there and
to hit that support and that deterrent in place to
make sure they're protected in the workplace.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Finny.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
One of the other big changes we know, the government's
got plans to relower the age of criminal responsibility. This
has been met with criticism from some groups advocating for
the rights of young people. They say that it's actually
not going to make a big difference and that it
could indeed really put a child on the path, you know,
to a life of being involved in crime. What do
(07:59):
like do you think it's going to make a difference.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I think as a differently, I believe that the young
person when they come into touch with police, and they're
going to come in touch with police, and they do
quite regularly, we need to make sure that this is
not a discipplining process that's going to be inevitent guide
the rest of their years. We need to provide that
support mechanism at that first opportunity and make sure they're
getting that support services around. It's not about just going
(08:24):
to court. The court needs to have that rehabilitation effect
as well and ask the questions why are they on
the street as a ten year old? Why are they
committing criminal offense as a ten year old? And we're
sick of the revolving door around the youth crime of
us returning to response adults hang on, if they were
responsible to start with, Yeah, their ten year old wuldn't
be on the street committing crimes.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
It's interesting because over the recent days I've actually had
some parents get in contact with me whose children or grandchildren,
nieces and nephews have been you know, have gotten themselves
in trouble, and they're basically saying they want that help.
You know, for some of them, they're like, we're not
actually able to get any help from well, let's you know,
for example, family and community services to be able to
(09:04):
sort of assist them to get those children on the
right track. So to me, it seems like the system's
failing us in so many ways currently, so.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Many ways we're not identifying the people the children at
risk at an early age. We see it time and
time again, Katie, where the responsible adult there's no responsibility
for these children from a young age. It's not just
about the ten and twelve year olds community criminal offenses,
but there's no responsibility for those kids growing up. They're
not providing that the background or the nurturing, the education
going forward for them to make the right decisions later
(09:35):
in life. But if we can have them before the
court where they have a manatory obligation to put these
kids through a rehabilitation program and to make sure that
they receive the support they need to make sure they're
making the right decisions in future.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Finny, what do police currently have to do if a
child under the age of twelve commits a.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Crime potentially as you hear they've been dealt with other
visions of you Justice Act, they've been referned to a
responsible adult requirement for them to participate in diversion programs.
There's no they have to actually consent to that process
being placed, which is going to stop now there's going
to be a mandatary requirement for them to participate in
these programs.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I think people expect that, and we all.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Expect that, we would expect that with their own children, Katie,
if if they were doing something wrong, that they held
responsible and they learn from their actually actions.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And when I say I think people expect that, you know,
people aren't saying, hey, Chuck, these ten year olds in jail.
People are expecting that there is a program or something
that they can be engaged in to try to get
them on the right track, to try to hopefully get
them in contact with some people who are going to
you know, to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Them, because definitely they're still coming into contact with police.
We're still dropping him home, we're still in touch with
territory families, We're still having these these contacts with these
young children. But if they go before the court, there's
mandatory programs that they have to actually do and obligate
it on the responsible adults as well, and they can
start a track of rehabilitation and make sure the education
is there so they make in the future.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
From what police tell you, from what officers on the
ground are telling you do, we have many young people
under the age of twelve committing crimes.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
It varies skati from different situations, different communities etc. There
are still a number of these children younger than ten
as well that are on the streets involved in criminal activity.
It's a sad fact of the Northern Territory. It's a
sad fact of Australia nationally that people aren't taking responsibility
of their own children. Our members get frustrated every time
(11:29):
because where the parents, we're the disciplines of these children.
Where sometimes we're seen as the guide to these young
children as well and provide an advice about why youre
out mate. We're asking the questions why don't you go home?
Why don't you want to be at home? Is there
any reasons why? And police feel like they're social workers
as well trying to deal with this. They're trying to help.
(11:50):
They don't want to lock up every single kid. They
want to make sure that their kids safe, make sure
that kid's got an environment where they want to be
at home, they want to be self insecure and in
bed instead of out committing crime.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
I want to move on to Declan's Law now.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's going to be introduced next week as well. Under
Declan's Law, the Chief Minister Leafanocchio said there would be
a presumption against bail for youth and adult serious violent offenders,
regardless of whether a weapon is involved.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Do you think this is a good idea?
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Definitely, it's going to be a deterrent. But the converse
effect of this as well is our prisons already over capacity.
We've already seen a large number of prisoners being held
in police watchases across the Northern Territory. Something I met
with the Deputy Chief Minister, Mister Maylie on Tuesday about
and a plan for them to go forward. They're working
on a plan to go forward to get these prisons
(12:40):
out of police watch as. This is going to greatly
affect that. But position again, serious violence offenses and offenses
against bail need to be held accountable and they're court jurisdictions.
They're court outcomes that need to be taken seriously, do.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
We know how quickly those watchises are going to be
back in the hands of police.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
We haven't set a date. They haven't got a formal date,
but I've been given advice we should see that around
the start of December, prior to Christmas, right, so again
those dates. They're still trying to work through a plan
in respect to that. There's a number of factors going
on in the background, such as the new build of
the facility for the youth detention center out at Holts,
a number of things going on with Alice Springs prisoner
(13:20):
as well with the expansion of that as well, and
also what they're going to do with the old Baron
Majail as well once they move the youths out. There's
a number of factors they're going to take in consideration
in respect to that. But they're looking positively despite the
previous governments. We've been arguing for this for some time.
We know daw And watchas is solely used for corrections.
We've seen the escape from there recently. We're also seeing
(13:41):
the Palmston watchase as of last week had in excess
of seventy prisoners above our prisoner demands as well. In
the watch house as well, which is causing some angst
and security concerns for our staff out there.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, what are they saying.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I mean, like obviously concerned because it's so busy, but
what does it sort of mean for them?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
It's hard to do your own business when you've got
someone else's cohabitating your facility, and the requirements from corrections
that are a lot different to police. And to make
sure it puts pressure on all the staff in there
and make sure that if something does happen that facility,
if we've got to add a good staff to respond
to that inside that facility and to make sure that
our members are safe and secure in there.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Finny, another quick one.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
We know that as part of the Decklan's Law changes,
it is going to mean that it's quicker and easier
for police to use handheld knife scanners known as Wan's
Now there has been some pushback about the legislation and
the fact that it is going to make it quicker
and easier for police to use those handheld knife scanners.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
They can now do this in.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
More public places, not just high risk areas, including public
transport and schools. You know, there've been some worried about
it happening in schools.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
I mean, what do you make of it.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I'm assuming that it's only going to happen if the
school actually contacts the police because they're worried about somebody
maybe being armed.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, definitely. When this legislation was first placed the Labor government,
the actual bureaucracy of it, we couldn't actually use it.
We've seen a thirty two step process for approvals to
try and get the wanding into place. Seeing this change
now to a lower level of approval, a greater effort
of extending that, the standing, the ability to have up
to seventy two hours to do a location, the extension
(15:18):
of that onto public transport systems. Formerly they only had
powers at bus stops, etc. Around the public transport. Now
they'll be able to do that whilst you're en route.
If police are excited of that, and everyone's worried about
the school police, I can guarantee you police aren't going
to be standing at the front of a school wanding
every kid as they walk into a school. It's in
response to the growing level of knives being taken to
(15:39):
school and the reports to police that knives are being
brought to the school for altercations, its ability for police
to do that and respond to those types of incidents,
but also to find the weapons or any weapons associated
with those claims.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Before I let you go, just with the mandatory minimum
sentencing that's going to be announced today, and again I
know you're not keen to steal the Chief Minister's but
do we know what period of time that minimum mandatory
sentencing might be.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
It might be between two and four months for the
first offense. But again we're hoping to see that announced
today and so positive effect and positive support for our
police members that face this and face the reality of
being assaulted.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
With every single You've heard and seen about it way
too often, you know, like it's something that's happening very often.
Can I just ask, because this is something that I've
thought about for ages and I don't know whether there's
been a bit of an update, but you'll probably I mean,
I know you're recalling Alice Springs a little while back,
where there was a group of police officers who were
off duty who were walking home and got set upon.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Do you know if there's ever been an outcome from that.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
I don't believe there was an outcome. I don't believe
the offenders were identified and through that process.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
That was one of the more horrifying incidents. I thought
when you looked at, you know, those those police officers,
one of them a brand new recruit, and you know,
like I know that the people who did it didn't
realize that they are officers.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
But it was just a really I thought to myself, how.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Would you go to work every day after something like
that's happened.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
It's hard enough to get the solder when you're conducting
your lawful duties, but when you're off duty and you're
trying to live in those communities as well, it's it's
very hard to go on and pretend that nothing's wrong.
It makes you guarded, it makes you doubt obviously your
own ability, and you're vulnerability as well in the community.
But our members don't want to go to work to
(17:24):
get assaulted, and the managtery sentencing for assault frontline workers
is well overdue, and we need to make sure that
we're supporting our frontline staff that are doing the hard
job every day. They're the ones running to the events.
They're not the ones running away from the events. They're
the ones that need the support in dealing with the
crime that we've had.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
In hand well.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Nathan Finn, President of the Northern Territory Police Association, always
good to catch up.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Thank you for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Thank you Caddie. That disruption, that's the disruption's fine and
that as long as the Labor Party's.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Just trying still I no, definitely.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Not to the men and women out there to continually.
We're aiming to make sure that you're supported and make
sure that these key legislation changes are there to support
you and in doing your role, and make sure that
the nt PA has got your back. No matter what happens,
day or night, rain or shine, we're there to help
you and make sure that you're supported. So thank you Katie,
and thank you for having me on. And I appreciate
(18:17):
the new the new office here and very flashy. Again,
thank you very much for having on.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
No worries. Good on you Finny, Thanks so much for
your time
And live in the studio with us this morning is
the Police Association President Nathan Finn.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Good morning to you, Finny.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Good morning Katy, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Thanks Bete. It's good to see you now we know.
I mean, we've spoken extensively over the last week or
so about about Parliament resuming next week. It's resuming for
the first time since the Northern Territory election and the
Colp government. They're wasting no time with plans to introduce
a huge amount of legislation, including ram raid legislation lowering
(00:28):
the age of criminal responsibility Declan's Law. We also saw
some changes yesterday when it comes to public to the
public drinking Phinny. First off, I want to ask you
about the new ram raid laws.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
They're going to carry up to ten years jail.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
They're going to be debated and passed next week now.
Under this new legislation, police are going to be able
to charge offenders who have stolen a vehicle and used
it as a weapon to damage property or gain entry
to a building, the brand new offense, which attracts up
to ten years behind bars. I guess some examples of
property are business, homes, police and private vehicles.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
What does it mean for police from your perspective?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Definitely great questions to ask. And we've been pushing a
lot of this stuff for a long time, Katie, and
the letters of changes are coming through and the COLP
have been very busy since taking government and been proactive
in respect to making sure that our police are getting
what they need and also the community gets what they
need and make sure there's protections in place to make
sure that people in the community are safe and secure
(01:32):
and they're going to end up as victims, well hopefully
not as victims further on, but they're also protecting our
police and making sure that they've got the powers to
do what they actually do and help people responsible for
what they do.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And I guess Tom, we won't really know just how
well it's going to work or what the outcome might
be until we maybe see that first case go through.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Court, do you reckon, Yeah, definitely, until we see it
go through court and we see the de terrence actually
that's put in place by the court and the sentencing
for that offending. We've seen time and time again and
these vehicles being targeted by stolen motor vehicles being rammed,
objects being thrown at police vehicles, being planets thrown at
police officers. We've seen ram rated at police facilities across
the Northern Territory as well. This has to stop and
(02:12):
there needs to be at a terrence in place, and
everyone out there that's winging that they're making all these
strict changes, I ask yourself, put yourself in the situation
which some of our members are placed in every single day,
where they're placed in danger and people in the community
as well being victims of these crimes. Continually. Something needs
to change. We can't just keep going along expecting different
results from the same legislation we had well.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And the fact is, you know, like whether some of
whether some people like it or not, people voted this
way and the COLP was actually really clear in their
mandate and what they were going to do when it
came to crime. And I know that we're obviously getting
further detail of that now, but they were very upfront
right from the get go about what they were going
to do and you know they're actually following through with.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Us definitely, and again I take my hat off to them.
It's a strong care campaign. They run the overwhelming majority
of the Northern territory community voted for them on the
policies that they put forward in the election campaign. They're
coming through with these, with the commitments they made prior
to the election, and they're posting this. It's great work.
There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes,
(03:17):
too madly rush to get this into Parliament for the
next week, for the earlier the sittings, there's a lot
of work going on behind the scenes to get this
legislation up to spec to make sure. We've had a
number of meetings with the Colp government, with Leah herself
in getting these amendments through and making sure that we're
actually consulted and approached in relation to what's going on.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
How different is that for you comparatively to the former government.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
It's a remarkable difference, Katie, and I take my hat
off to them. If there's ever an issue, there's a
phone call that's made to make sure that we're happy
and police members are being supported to do the role
that they need to do and they're desperately crying out
for this. For a number of number of years, especially
around the assault of a frontline workers which is going
to be anounced today, were believed by the government, which
(04:02):
is a great step forward to making sure our members
are protected and make sure there's deterrence in place for
people that choose to commit a criminal offenses or choose
to assold a member of the police force will be
held responsible.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
So are we expecting minimum mandatory sentencing for those who
assault frontline workers.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I'd hate to steal the thunder of the government, but
as a press conference coming out today, I believe this
should be a press media release coming out this morning
in respect to that as well, we're going to see
some actual deterrence for members that choose to assauld or
physically harm a police officer or spit in the face
of a police officer which causes us beutable damage to
the member both psychologically and mentally as well and.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Testing and has Mango season Madness Mango Season deals on
HP laptop computers, prices starting from three.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Hundred and seventy eight dollars.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Wow an the latest blog clusters for fourteen dollars. Palmerston
and BCC Cinema's Casuarina tickets fell at Monday to Thursday
and before five pm Friday. Book at eventcinemas dot com
dot Au online booking fees and full TCNC supply.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Don't let the heat of the build up slow down.
Speaker 5 (05:07):
You're fashion designer here, aspiring firefighter here, mister park Ranger.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
Present Schoolers where young minds learn and grow.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Get set the term four of school starting attend to
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Speaker 2 (06:06):
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Speaker 1 (06:45):
You are listening to mix Fallow four nine's three sixty, Well,
won't's dry that again? I don't know what's going on
for some gremlins in the system.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I think it might be the labor party still trying
to censor me. I'm sure, Brent or Eva's out there
trying to shut me up, but.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
I think they care what you say. Now, they'll be
hoping you go.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Yeah, that's right, definitely, But obviously supporting the CLP government
too much and the new Chief Minister.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
But what a pain in the in the bottom for
both of us. There were right in the middle of
a good discussion. We're talking about mandatory sentencing for frontline
workers and you were talking about why this is required.
You didn't want to steal the Chief Minister's thunderus she's
going to be making in an announcement today.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
But it's absolutely needed.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, definitely, It's something your members have been asking for
for a long long time. We finally feel like we're
getting listened to and our members are out there and
to hit that support and that deterrent in place to
make sure they're protected in the workplace.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Finny.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
One of the other big changes we know, the government's
got plans to relower the age of criminal responsibility. This
has been met with criticism from some groups advocating for
the rights of young people. They say that it's actually
not going to make a big difference and that it
could indeed really put a child on the path, you know,
to a life of being involved in crime. What do
(07:59):
like do you think it's going to make a difference.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I think as a differently, I believe that the young
person when they come into touch with police, and they're
going to come in touch with police, and they do
quite regularly, we need to make sure that this is
not a discipplining process that's going to be inevitent guide
the rest of their years. We need to provide that
support mechanism at that first opportunity and make sure they're
getting that support services around. It's not about just going
(08:24):
to court. The court needs to have that rehabilitation effect
as well and ask the questions why are they on
the street as a ten year old? Why are they
committing criminal offense as a ten year old? And we're
sick of the revolving door around the youth crime of
us returning to response adults hang on, if they were
responsible to start with, Yeah, their ten year old wuldn't
be on the street committing crimes.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
It's interesting because over the recent days I've actually had
some parents get in contact with me whose children or grandchildren,
nieces and nephews have been you know, have gotten themselves
in trouble, and they're basically saying they want that help.
You know, for some of them, they're like, we're not
actually able to get any help from well, let's you know,
for example, family and community services to be able to
(09:04):
sort of assist them to get those children on the
right track. So to me, it seems like the system's
failing us in so many ways currently, so.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Many ways we're not identifying the people the children at
risk at an early age. We see it time and
time again, Katie, where the responsible adult there's no responsibility
for these children from a young age. It's not just
about the ten and twelve year olds community criminal offenses,
but there's no responsibility for those kids growing up. They're
not providing that the background or the nurturing, the education
going forward for them to make the right decisions later
(09:35):
in life. But if we can have them before the
court where they have a manatory obligation to put these
kids through a rehabilitation program and to make sure that
they receive the support they need to make sure they're
making the right decisions in future.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Finny, what do police currently have to do if a
child under the age of twelve commits a.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Crime potentially as you hear they've been dealt with other
visions of you Justice Act, they've been referned to a
responsible adult requirement for them to participate in diversion programs.
There's no they have to actually consent to that process
being placed, which is going to stop now there's going
to be a mandatary requirement for them to participate in
these programs.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I think people expect that, and we all.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Expect that, we would expect that with their own children, Katie,
if if they were doing something wrong, that they held
responsible and they learn from their actually actions.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And when I say I think people expect that, you know,
people aren't saying, hey, Chuck, these ten year olds in jail.
People are expecting that there is a program or something
that they can be engaged in to try to get
them on the right track, to try to hopefully get
them in contact with some people who are going to
you know, to keep an eye on.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Them, because definitely they're still coming into contact with police.
We're still dropping him home, we're still in touch with
territory families, We're still having these these contacts with these
young children. But if they go before the court, there's
mandatory programs that they have to actually do and obligate
it on the responsible adults as well, and they can
start a track of rehabilitation and make sure the education
is there so they make in the future.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
From what police tell you, from what officers on the
ground are telling you do, we have many young people
under the age of twelve committing crimes.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
It varies skati from different situations, different communities etc. There
are still a number of these children younger than ten
as well that are on the streets involved in criminal activity.
It's a sad fact of the Northern Territory. It's a
sad fact of Australia nationally that people aren't taking responsibility
of their own children. Our members get frustrated every time
(11:29):
because where the parents, we're the disciplines of these children.
Where sometimes we're seen as the guide to these young
children as well and provide an advice about why youre
out mate. We're asking the questions why don't you go home?
Why don't you want to be at home? Is there
any reasons why? And police feel like they're social workers
as well trying to deal with this. They're trying to help.
(11:50):
They don't want to lock up every single kid. They
want to make sure that their kids safe, make sure
that kid's got an environment where they want to be
at home, they want to be self insecure and in
bed instead of out committing crime.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
I want to move on to Declan's Law now.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's going to be introduced next week as well. Under
Declan's Law, the Chief Minister Leafanocchio said there would be
a presumption against bail for youth and adult serious violent offenders,
regardless of whether a weapon is involved.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Do you think this is a good idea?
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Definitely, it's going to be a deterrent. But the converse
effect of this as well is our prisons already over capacity.
We've already seen a large number of prisoners being held
in police watchases across the Northern Territory. Something I met
with the Deputy Chief Minister, Mister Maylie on Tuesday about
and a plan for them to go forward. They're working
on a plan to go forward to get these prisons
(12:40):
out of police watch as. This is going to greatly
affect that. But position again, serious violence offenses and offenses
against bail need to be held accountable and they're court jurisdictions.
They're court outcomes that need to be taken seriously, do.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
We know how quickly those watchises are going to be
back in the hands of police.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
We haven't set a date. They haven't got a formal date,
but I've been given advice we should see that around
the start of December, prior to Christmas, right, so again
those dates. They're still trying to work through a plan
in respect to that. There's a number of factors going
on in the background, such as the new build of
the facility for the youth detention center out at Holts,
a number of things going on with Alice Springs prisoner
(13:20):
as well with the expansion of that as well, and
also what they're going to do with the old Baron
Majail as well once they move the youths out. There's
a number of factors they're going to take in consideration
in respect to that. But they're looking positively despite the
previous governments. We've been arguing for this for some time.
We know daw And watchas is solely used for corrections.
We've seen the escape from there recently. We're also seeing
(13:41):
the Palmston watchase as of last week had in excess
of seventy prisoners above our prisoner demands as well. In
the watch house as well, which is causing some angst
and security concerns for our staff out there.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, what are they saying.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
I mean, like obviously concerned because it's so busy, but
what does it sort of mean for them?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
It's hard to do your own business when you've got
someone else's cohabitating your facility, and the requirements from corrections
that are a lot different to police. And to make
sure it puts pressure on all the staff in there
and make sure that if something does happen that facility,
if we've got to add a good staff to respond
to that inside that facility and to make sure that
our members are safe and secure in there.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Finny, another quick one.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
We know that as part of the Decklan's Law changes,
it is going to mean that it's quicker and easier
for police to use handheld knife scanners known as Wan's
Now there has been some pushback about the legislation and
the fact that it is going to make it quicker
and easier for police to use those handheld knife scanners.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
They can now do this in.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
More public places, not just high risk areas, including public
transport and schools. You know, there've been some worried about
it happening in schools.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
I mean, what do you make of it.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
I'm assuming that it's only going to happen if the
school actually contacts the police because they're worried about somebody
maybe being armed.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, definitely. When this legislation was first placed the Labor government,
the actual bureaucracy of it, we couldn't actually use it.
We've seen a thirty two step process for approvals to
try and get the wanding into place. Seeing this change
now to a lower level of approval, a greater effort
of extending that, the standing, the ability to have up
to seventy two hours to do a location, the extension
(15:18):
of that onto public transport systems. Formerly they only had
powers at bus stops, etc. Around the public transport. Now
they'll be able to do that whilst you're en route.
If police are excited of that, and everyone's worried about
the school police, I can guarantee you police aren't going
to be standing at the front of a school wanding
every kid as they walk into a school. It's in
response to the growing level of knives being taken to
(15:39):
school and the reports to police that knives are being
brought to the school for altercations, its ability for police
to do that and respond to those types of incidents,
but also to find the weapons or any weapons associated
with those claims.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Before I let you go, just with the mandatory minimum
sentencing that's going to be announced today, and again I
know you're not keen to steal the Chief Minister's but
do we know what period of time that minimum mandatory
sentencing might be.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
It might be between two and four months for the
first offense. But again we're hoping to see that announced
today and so positive effect and positive support for our
police members that face this and face the reality of
being assaulted.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
With every single You've heard and seen about it way
too often, you know, like it's something that's happening very often.
Can I just ask, because this is something that I've
thought about for ages and I don't know whether there's
been a bit of an update, but you'll probably I mean,
I know you're recalling Alice Springs a little while back,
where there was a group of police officers who were
off duty who were walking home and got set upon.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Do you know if there's ever been an outcome from that.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
I don't believe there was an outcome. I don't believe
the offenders were identified and through that process.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
That was one of the more horrifying incidents. I thought
when you looked at, you know, those those police officers,
one of them a brand new recruit, and you know,
like I know that the people who did it didn't
realize that they are officers.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
But it was just a really I thought to myself, how.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Would you go to work every day after something like
that's happened.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
It's hard enough to get the solder when you're conducting
your lawful duties, but when you're off duty and you're
trying to live in those communities as well, it's it's
very hard to go on and pretend that nothing's wrong.
It makes you guarded, it makes you doubt obviously your
own ability, and you're vulnerability as well in the community.
But our members don't want to go to work to
(17:24):
get assaulted, and the managtery sentencing for assault frontline workers
is well overdue, and we need to make sure that
we're supporting our frontline staff that are doing the hard
job every day. They're the ones running to the events.
They're not the ones running away from the events. They're
the ones that need the support in dealing with the
crime that we've had.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
In hand well.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Nathan Finn, President of the Northern Territory Police Association, always
good to catch up.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Thank you for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Thank you Caddie. That disruption, that's the disruption's fine and
that as long as the Labor Party's.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Just trying still I no, definitely.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Not to the men and women out there to continually.
We're aiming to make sure that you're supported and make
sure that these key legislation changes are there to support
you and in doing your role, and make sure that
the nt PA has got your back. No matter what happens,
day or night, rain or shine, we're there to help
you and make sure that you're supported. So thank you Katie,
and thank you for having me on. And I appreciate
(18:17):
the new the new office here and very flashy. Again,
thank you very much for having on.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
No worries. Good on you Finny, Thanks so much for
your time
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