Cops on the beat doubled in 2 years

The number of police officers on patrol in the Darwin region has more than doubled in the past two years.

There were an average 83 general duties officers on patrol from Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston stations each day in February compared to 37 in the same month in 2003.

Police Minister Paul Henderson told the Estimates Committee hearings the improvement had come since the NT Government launched its $75 million Building our Police Force Plan.

"The figures show the Government's plan is delivering results, with an average extra 46 officers now on the beat across the Darwin region each day," he said.

"General duties officers play an important role in both deterring crime with a highly-visible presence and in responding quickly to incidents, helping build safer communities.

"Importantly, the boost in resources is enabling police to us intelligience-led rosters to deploy officers to target peak periods rather than be restricted to standard 12-hour rosters.

"This targeted policing is delivering results, including property crime cut in half across the Territory."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thurs, 07 July 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283