Police blow budget

The Territory police have blown their budget by as much as $5 million, it was learned last night.

Most of the overspending is believed to been on wages.

The Police, Fire and Emergency Services told the NT Government it expects to overrun its $172million budget this financial year by about 3 per cent.

Police Minister Paul Henderson said last night police had overrun their budget every year for the past 10 years.

“Of course, we’d love every agency to come in on budget,” he said.

“But the trouble with policing is that it can’t predict operational requirements.”

He said the budget had been based on stepping up recruitment and a certain attrition rate among serving officers.

But fewer officers had left than predicted.

Mr Henderson said: “Morale has improved.”

He said Police Commissioner Paul White was doing a good job and had his “absolute 100 per cent” support.

“Crime, particularly property crime, is down 50 per cent,” he said.

“The Territory has become a safer place since he came and the NT Government committed more money to the police.”

Mr White, who was recruited from South Australia, has 22 months of his five-year contract to serve.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Fri, 11 March 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Nigel Adlam
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/