Alice Springs Triple-0 Police Communications Centre will become permanent after a successful trial saw more than 14,000 calls answered in the past 12 months
Chief Minister says thousands of Territorians have already benefited from the outstanding work being done at the Alice Springs Police Communications Centre.
Nearly 8,000 Triple-0 calls and more than 6,000 Police Assistance Lines calls were answered by the call centre.
The Alice Springs Triple-0 Police Communications Centre will become permanent as part of the Territory’s Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre (JESCC) after a successful trial saw more than 14,000 calls answered in the past 12 months.
That means the centre is taking nearly 40 calls a day.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced in Alice Springs that following a successful trial, the call centre would become permanent as an ongoing capability integrated with the JESCC.
“The community has told us that when they call the police in their time of need, they want to talk to someone local who understands where they are and how best to respond,” the Chief Minister said.
“What is critical is that some of the call centre workers speak Aboriginal languages.
“Thousands of Territorians have already benefited from the outstanding work being done at the Alice Springs Police Communications Centre. I thank the dedicated staff at the ASPCC for the vital work they do every day to help keep Territorians safe.
“Our Government is backing police with the tools, technology and resources they need to respond faster, smarter and stronger. Keeping Territorians safe is our number one priority.”
In the 12 months to 4 November 2026, the Alice Springs call centre answered a total of 14,122 calls, including 7,929 Triple Zero (000) calls, of which 97.4% were answered within the benchmark of 10 seconds compared to both the Territory average (87.2 per cent) and KPI targets (90 per cent).
A further 6,193 Police Assistance Line (131 444) calls were also dealt with, of which 93.8% were answered within the benchmark 20 seconds, again well ahead of the Territory average (81.8 per cent) and KPI (80 per cent).
The volume handled by the Alice Springs call centre represents over 15% of all Triple-0 calls originating from Alice Springs (51,135) and nearly 30% of all Police Assistance Line (131 444) calls originating from Alice Springs (21,100).
“We know how important it is for Territorians to have confidence that when they call 000, their call will be answered and help will be on the way,” the Chief Minister said.
“In addition to providing better service to Alice Springs residents, the call centre also improves situational awareness and local knowledge of Alice Springs across the wider JESCC call-taking team.”
The Finocchiaro CLP Government launched the ASPCC in October 2025, putting local police call-taking on the ground in Alice Springs to deliver faster responses, stronger policing and safer streets for Territorians.
Treasurer and Member for Namatjira Bill Yan said the Centre had boosted police operations in Central Australia and achieved remarkable results in quickly connecting people with the emergency services they need.
“Having a Triple Zero call centre in Alice Springs means emergency response capability is closer to the communities it serves and provides an important additional layer of resilience for the Northern Territory,” Minister Yan said.
Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment and Member for Braitling Joshua Burgoyne said the call centre gave Central Australia a strong, Territory-based capability that supports faster coordination and ensures local knowledge is part of the response when Territorians need help.
“Our priority is making sure every Territorian can get help when they need it. A strong Triple Zero presence in Alice Springs gives our emergency response network greater capacity, resilience and confidence when seconds count,” Minister Burgoyne said.
