Health and safety issues dominate NT police conference

Health and safety issues are dominating the annual conference of the Northern Territory Police Association in Darwin.

The association says it is pleased the Police Commissioner has established a peak body to manage occupational health and safety but is concerned that not enough attention has been paid to a recent report card showing failure in this area.

The association's president Vince Kelly says other issues of concern are inadequate police housing and legal funding.

"Our members are constantly being criticised at an individual level by the coroner and I believe when our members are attacked by the coroner in this manner they should have separate representation to the Commissioner of Police," he said.

The Northern Territory Government says it believes that police in the Top End are being well looked after.

Police Minister Paul Henderson told the conference that the Government has injected $75 million into the police force.

"What we now have is police being renumerated to the same levels as their counterparts on the eastern seaboard," he said.

"We're seeing attrition rates significantly decrease, morale has improved and certainly we've made that big commitment to our police force."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/drughouse.html
Pubdate: Mon, 19 September 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
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