First Police Public Safety Officer Squad Begins Training in NT
Umesh Dhakal
KNA – Canberra
The first intake of Police Public Safety Officers has commenced training at the Northern Territory Police Force College, as a 10.2% reduction in crime victims has been recorded across the Territory.
An 18-week training program has been begun by 24 recruits, with graduation scheduled for June. Following completion, deployments are expected to be made to Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs.
The new Police Public Safety Officer stream has been introduced by the Country Liberal Party Government, with police auxiliary, public housing safety and transit safety roles set to be consolidated into a single public-place policing function.
It has been stated by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro that the reform represents the most significant policing change in a generation and that a stronger visible presence in public spaces will be delivered.
More than 200 police officers were graduated in 2025, and three additional Constable squads are scheduled to be trained in 2026.
Territory-wide figures for January to December 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, show that house break-ins were reduced by 32%, commercial break-ins by 28%, motor vehicle theft by 15%, assaults by 6%, and domestic violence by 3%.
It has been indicated that further youth justice and sentencing reforms will be progressed during 2026.
Source: NT Government/Media
