Chief Minister
Minister for Police
Jo Hersey
Minister for Education and Training
Member for Katherine
Media Release Finocchiaro CLP Government backs NT Police crackdown on Katherine youth offenders
4 November 2026
Finocchiaro CLP Government backing Katherine community with additional police resources and targeted enforcement to crack down on youth offending.
Chief Minister visited Katherine today to meet local police and community leaders and outline further action to target the small cohort of offenders causing the most harm.
Police stepping up operations with a focus on building intelligence, identifying repeat and emerging offenders, and strengthening enforcement and early intervention.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is backing the Katherine community with additional police resources, targeted enforcement and stronger coordination across agencies to crack down on youth offending and restore community safety.
Chief Minister and Minister for Police Lia Finocchiaro visited Katherine today to meet local police and community leaders and outline further action to target the small cohort of offenders causing the most harm.
Police are stepping up operations with a focus on building intelligence, identifying repeat and emerging offenders, and strengthening enforcement and early intervention.
Additional measures include:
Targeted police operations to identify repeat and emerging offenders through intelligence-led enforcement focused on those causing the most harm in the community.Additional police resources deployed from Darwin, including an intelligence officer and investigative support to strengthen Strike Force Cerberus, proactive patrols, bail compliance and stolen vehicle responses.Increased youth and family engagement will see Aboriginal Liaison Officers engaging daily with high-risk youth and their families, supported by additional youth activities and the redeployment of school-based officers during school holidays.A dedicated Youth Coordinator to be be trialled to strengthen coordination between agencies, improve referrals and follow-up, and support Operation Wenlock, which targets young people at significant risk of reoffending through improved supervision, support and accountability.Improved patrol coordination which will bring together police, private security, Public Safety Protection Officers (PPSOs), Council and community patrols through regular meetings to share intelligence, coordinate coverage and target crime hotspots.An expanded Circuit Breaker program which will see the Department of Children and Families expand patrol coverage, with operations extending through the night until 1am.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said Katherine residents deserved to feel safe in their homes, on their streets and in their businesses.
“My message is clear: enough is enough. We are backing police to target those causing the most harm and making sure government agencies and community organisations work together to intervene early and hold offenders and their families accountable.
“We are determined to restore safety and confidence in Katherine, and we will keep backing police and working with the community until we see lasting results,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.
Member for Katherine Jo Hersey welcomed the additional measures.
“I have heard loud and clear from the Katherine community that more needs to be done to tackle youth crime and antisocial behaviour.
“I thank the Chief Minister for coming to Katherine, listening to the community and backing a coordinated plan to improve safety and hold offenders accountable,” Minister Hersey said.
Meanwhile, a new prisoner graffiti removal taskforce has commenced in Katherine this week, expanding the program beyond Darwin and Palmerston.
Operating through the Katherine Prison Work Camp, the taskforce will clean graffiti from public infrastructure and high-traffic areas as part of Corrections’ Community Support Work Program, ensuring prisoners give back to the community while serving their sentences.
Prisoner work parties have already demonstrated their value, filling 925 sandbags in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Narelle in Katherine and 1,700 sandbags in Alice Springs to help protect the hospital and nearby homes.
In March 2026, 20 prisoners were also deployed to assist with flood clean-up and recovery efforts in Katherine.
