Northern Territory Police
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| Northern Territory Police | |
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| Motto: To Serve and Protect | |
| Established: | 1911 |
| Headed by: | Chief Commissioner Paul White |
| Ministry: | Police, Fire and Emergency Services |
| Headquarters: | Mitchell Centre Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT 0800 |
| Stations: | 36 |
| Employees: | 1,081 |
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The Northern Territory Police (NTP) is the police body that has legal jurisdiction over the Northern Territory of Australia. This police service has 1081 gazetted police positions made up of 41 Senior Sergeants, 134 Sergeants,31 Brevet Sergeants, 612 Constables, 141 Auxiliaries and 63 Aboriginal Community Police Officers. The rest of the positions are members of Commissioned rank and 18 inoperative positions (as of 12 January 2006). It also has a civilian staff of 251 across 36 stations
Police in the Northern Territory are part of a "Tri-Service": the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Paul White, APM as the CEO of the "Tri Service". Sworn Police Officers can be required to serve anywhere where a police presence is required in the Northern Territory including remote Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land and outback Northern Territory. Sworn Police can be recruited in two divisions: Police Constables and Police Auxiliaries. The motto of the Northern Territory Police Force is “To Serve and Protect”.
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[edit] History
The NTP traces its roots back to the South Australian Mounted Police from 1870 when Inspector Paul Foelsche and six other police officers arrived in the Territory. A small rural constabulary (part time force) had existed earlier but was disbanded. The Native Police Corps was formed in 1884. Their role was mostly as a security force to protect the early inhabitants of the Northern Territory than as a police force. The current NTP came into existence in 1911. In 1931, the two Territories Central and Northern became the Northern Territory of Australia and the authority of the Commissioner of Police was established in the Administrator of the Northern Territory, in Darwin.
In December 1869, the Governor commissioned Paul Foelsche, a Corporal in the SA Mounted Police stationed at Strathalbyn, to be the first Sub-Inspector of Police at Palmerston. He sailed for Darwin soon afterwards. The police uniform then worn in the Territory was the same as that worn in South Australia. It consisted of a short cut-away blue serge tunic with nine regulation buttons, silver twisted cord shoulder knots, black braid on the sleeves and silver chevrons for non-commissioned officers. The riding breeches were dark blue corkscrew serge with a white stripe.
The first firearms were a Schneider rifle or carbine, calibre .577. These were the first breech loaded rifles used in the British Army, and the original cartridges had a cardboard case. Later Martini-Henry rifles were used, and Webley revolvers were issued. Like their predecessors, the Rural Constabulary at Escape Cliffs, the first detachment of police at Palmerston had as their first responsibility the maintenance of law and order in the community.
With the discovery of gold near Pine Creek in 1872 the police found themselves with never a dull moment. Stations were established at Adelaide River, Yam Creek, Pine Creek, Roper River and later at Daly River. The first police fatality occurred in 1872 when Mounted Constable Davis, a noted swimmer, disobeyed a local Standing Order and had a dip in the sea. He was killed by a crocodile. Darwin’s first police station was constructed of poles and plaster measuring 20ft by 12ft. The inspector lived nearby in three rooms. A small stone building with two cells was the accommodation for those in custody. These are now incorporated in the Administrator’s offices on the Esplanade.
In Central Australia the police were part of the South Australian Mounted Police. Mounted Constable Shirley was the first mounted trooper in charge at Alice Springs (first called Stuart). At one time there were two Commissioners of Police in the Northern Territory: one for the Territory of North Australia and one for the Territory of Central Australia. In 1931, the two Territories became the Northern Territory of Australia and the authority of the Commissioner of Police was vested in the Administrator of the Northern Territory, in Darwin.
On 1 July 1964, Clive William Graham, a police officer of long standing in the Territory, was appointed as Commissioner and the force as a whole was administered as part of the Public Service of the Northern Territory. In recent years, various cases have made national and international headlines: the end of the Petrov Affair occurred in Darwin; the 1968 month-long bush search for Larry-Boy who murdered his wife and seriously injured a stockman at Elsey Station; and the 1971 attempted hijack of a plane at Alice Springs airport in which a Territory police officer, who was badly wounded, displayed great heroism. Events connected with search and rescue operations at sea, in swamps and the desert have also made the news. Since 1955 the size of the Northern Territory Police Force has increased significantly in line with the population. In 1955 there were 80 police officers. Today the establishment numbers 1030 sworn Police[1], Auxiliaries and Aboriginal Community Police Officers. The Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre in Darwin has instant contact with all stations, vehicles, aircraft and vessels and provides for the Police, Fire, Emergency Services and St John Ambulance Service.
[edit] Recent History
In 1955 there were 80 police officers. Today the establishment numbers 1081 sworn Police, Auxiliaries and Aboriginal Community Police Officers. In 1989 the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services were joined to become a Tri-Service. The Commissioner of Police also becoming the Chief Executive Officer for the Fire and Rescue Service and the Emergency Service.
[edit] Organisational Structure
- Commissioner : Paul Cameron White
- Deputy Commissioner : Bruce Wernham
- Assistant Commissioner, Crime and Support Command : Mark McAdie
- Assistant Commissioner, Operations Command : Grahame Kelly
- Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources : Mark Payne
- Director/Chief Fire Office, Fire & Emergency Servces : Greg Nettleton
[edit] Commissioners
- 1870 - 1904 Paul Heinrich Matthias Foelsche
- 1904 - 1923 Nicholas John Waters
- 1924 - 1927 Major George Vernon Dudley
- 1927 - 1964 the Office of Commissioner was held by the Government Resident, a position now known as the Administrator of the Northern Territory
- 1964 - 1966 Clive William Graham
- 1966 - 1967 Sydney James Bowie
- 1967 - 1978 William James McLaren
- 1978 - 1988 Ronald (Peter) McAulay
- 1988 - 1994 Michael John Palmer
- 1994 - 2001 Brian Charles Bates
- 2001 - Paul Cameron White
[edit] Organisation
The headquarters of the Northern Territory Police is located at the Mitchell Centre on Mitchell Street[2]. The Northern Territory Police maintains over 36 local police stations coordinated by their respective Local Area Commands.
A number of specialist units have been established, including the Territory Response Group, Accident Investigation Unit, Computer Crime Unit, Drug Intelligence Unit, Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID), Indigenous Development Unit, Highway Patrol Unit, Missing Persons Unit, Remote Area Traffic Patrol Unit and Air Support Unit.
[edit] Air Wing
The NT Police Air Wing was formed in 1979 with bases in Darwin and Alice Springs, operating two fixed wing aircraft. The area of operation covers 1,346,200 km2, being some 1610 km North to the South and 934 km east to the West. This around one sixth of the Australian landmass, but is very remote, having less than 200,000 residents (1% of the national population).
[edit] Firearms and equipment
In 1992 the Northern Territory Police made the decision to change from the traditional police pistol, the .38 and .357 S&W revolvers, to the Glock self-loading pistol (SLP), bringing them into line with other police forces, both in Australia and overseas. Officers now carry the Glock model 22 .40S&W pistol. Other weapons used in the Northern Territory Police include the AR15 semi-auto rifle which is used by specialist groups, Officers also carry Remington model 870 pump action shotgun and Remington model 700 (.308) bolt action rifle. Police are now introducing Tasers[3] as a non-lethal force option for frontline police and have already as of February 2008 purchased 74 units under a Territory Government trial.
[edit] Vehicles
The Northern Territory Police mostly use LAC response vehicles include Ford Falcon sedans, Holden VE Commodore[4] and Ford F250 utilities as caged trucks[5]. Specialist vehicles include the Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD. Highway Patrol vehicles usually consist of a combination of marked and unmarked Holden VY SS Commodores and Ford Falcon XR6II. Other specialist sections and units use a variety of police vehicles including Isuzu trucks, and fixed wing Pilatusa aeroplanes.
[edit] Officers Killed on Duty
- 7 November 1883, Mounted Constable John Shirley Died 7 November 1883, aged 27 years from dehydration while searching for men who had murdered a man at Lawson’s Creek[6].
- 1 August 1933, Mounted Constable Albert Stewart McColl was speared to death at Woodah Island in Arnhem Land[6].
- 17 August 1948, Constable Maxwell Gilbert Died 17 August 1948, aged 27 years when the vehicle he was driving overturned just north of Wauchope. He was escorting a prisoner toAlice Springs[6].
- 11 December 1981, Senior Constable Allen Price aged 44 years died of a heart attack while attempting to stop a disturbance in Mataranka[6].
- 29 January 1984, Detective Sergeant Ian Bradford died when the police vehicle he was a passenger in went over the edge of the wharf in Darwin[6].
[edit] References
- ^ In the Line of Duty. Australian Federal Police. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
- ^ Contact Us. Northern Territory Police. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
- ^ Northern Territory Police introduce TASER. Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
- ^ Northern Territory Police Vehicles. Australian Police Vehicles Website. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
- ^ Northern Territory Police Assorted Vehicles. Australian Police Cars. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i National Memorial Honours Our Police. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
[edit] External links
- Annual Reports
- Strategic Documents
- Licences, Permits & Forms
- The Drum
- Media Releases
- Press Conference Recordings
- Northern Territory Police
- Northern Territory Police Killed on duty
[edit] Further reading
- Debnam, Lawrie.(1990) Men of the Northern Territory Police 1870-1914 : who they were and where they were Elizabeth, S. Aust. L. Debnam. ISBN 0949124621
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