New Police Public Safety Officers (PPSOs) to enhance community safety.Chief Minister says PPSOs latest measure to wind back Labor’s crime crisis.Decisive step to strengthen visible policing and combat anti-social behaviour.
Community safety will be elevated across the Territory as the first Police Public Safety Officers (PPSOs) hit the streets tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
Following the graduation of the first squad at the Police College today, twenty-one new recruits will hit the ground for their first shifts from Monday.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the first squad will be deployed across the Territory to strengthen frontline capability and support sworn police members across the Territory.
“This is the biggest police reform in a generation,” the Chief Minister said.
“After years of Labor’s spiralling crime crisis, last June we took the decisive step to create the PPSO stream to strengthen visible policing and prevent anti-social behaviour in our communities.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our public spaces and on our transport systems as we go about our daily lives.
“We are proud to back our police to do their jobs, and to invest in measures that make our communities safer.”
Police Public Safety Officers will patrol public places, public housing, and transport locations and at events across the Territory, providing an additional visible presence in communities.
Mrs Finocchiaro said the graduates bring a wealth of life experience strengthening their readiness to keep communities safe and secure.
“PPSO graduates have also gained real on-the-job training as part of Operation Ventura, putting months of training into action alongside experienced police officers in crime hotspots in Palmerston,” the Chief Minister said.
“They have seen first-hand how they can make a real difference in reducing crime and restoring the Territory lifestyle.”
The team will be deployed to Darwin, Katherine, and Alice Springs.
“We know there is a lot more work to do to create the safe and secure communities that everyday Territorians deserve to live and work in,” the Chief Minister said.
“The PPSO graduates have a big responsibility to help us achieve this goal.”
Commissioner of Police Martin Dole APM said the PPSO Squad 1 graduates had a diverse range of professional backgrounds and experiences.
Among them are former Transit Safety Officers, Public Housing Safety Officers, a Corrections Office, a Mental Health Recovery Worker, and a medical technician. This broad set of experiences ensures police can work across a range of contexts and communities with safety and sensitivity, the Commissioner said.
“Today’s graduation marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Northern Territory Police Force and demonstrates our commitment to strengthening frontline capability and community safety across the Territory,” Commissioner Dole said.
“We look forward to the new stream becoming stronger over the next year, with the PPSO Squad 2 halfway through their training. The new PPSO squad will continue to bolster the police force, with more than 1800 strong members across the Territory.
“It’s an exciting time for the force and we congratulate Squad 1 on their achievement today.”
Eight of the first squad have transitioned from the Public Housing Safety Officer and Transit Safety Officer streams.
Throughout the 18-week program, recruits completed training in defence tactics, firearms training, communication, operational safety legislation, conflict resolution, first aid, and community engagement, preparing them to serve and protect Territorians.
Recruitment for future PPSO squads is continuing, with the next intake (Squad 3) scheduled to commence training in August.
