More than 300 new NT Police have been recruited under the Finocchiaro CLP Government following graduation of Police Public Safety Officers Squad 2.
Chief Minister says it’s fitting to acknowledge the Territory’s newest frontline graduates on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York.
PPSO Squad 1 officers have already delivered outstanding results and contributed to creating safer communities.
More than 300 new NT Police Force recruits have now commenced training or hit the streets to combat crime under the Finocchiaro CLP Government following the graduation yesterday of a second squad of Police Public Safety Officers.
Sixteen new PPSOs will now join the 21 officers who graduated from the history-making PPSO Squad 1 in June. The 14 men and two women in PPSO Squad 2 will be posted to Alice Springs (six) and Darwin (10).
With the new PPSOs, under the Finocchiaro CLP Government, 305 new NT Police recruits across all streams have commenced training and graduated, including Constables, PPSOs, and Auxiliaries.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro congratulated the new officers and said it was fitting to pay tribute to the Territory’s newest frontline graduates on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York.
“Today is a poignant day to mark your graduation,” the Chief Minister said yesterday at Squad 2’s graduation.
“Together, we observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks in the United States, and we remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that day, including 10 Australians and more than 400 emergency personnel.
“We pay tribute to and thank all our first responder heroes, who are always there for people on the most difficult days of their lives.
“This is the noble tradition of service that each of you will be a part of from today.
“I am so proud of you all – you are now part of the biggest NT Police reform in a generation. With PPSO Squad 2, more than 300 police recruits have joined the Force since we were elected. That is what rebuilding our Police Force looks like.”
Among Squad 2’s ranks are former nurses, hospitality workers, and security personnel.
The Chief Minister said PPSO Squad 1 achieved outstanding results in their first two months on the beat.
In Darwin:
· PPSOs in Darwin provided proactive frontline support across the Greater Darwin region, working closely with Transit Safety Officers and Public Housing Safety Officers to strengthen partnerships and enhance community safety outcomes.
· They have also continued to support major events, protest activities and social order policing, while building operational capability and corporate knowledge across the cohort.
· Between 1 July and 1 September 2026, PPSOs seized and destroyed 2,764 litres of alcohol, issued 261 Banned Drinker Orders and completed almost 500 proactive patrols across Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston.
· During this period, they issued 34 infringement notices, apprehended 133 people for protective custody and arrested more than 40 individuals for a variety of offences.
In Alice Springs:
· PPSOs have played an integral role in social order policing, point-of-sale interventions and supporting special operations throughout the region.
· Between 1 July and 1 September 2026, they conducted 1,210 point-of-sale inspections, resulting in 431 refusals of service, while also undertaking almost 400 proactive patrols by foot, bicycle and vehicle.
· During this period, PPSOs engaged with more than 3,000 people across Alice Springs, arrested 20 individuals, and apprehended 34 persons for protective custody, contributing to community safety and the reduction of alcohol-related harm.
In Katherine:
· PPSOs provided valuable frontline support across the region.
· Between 1 July and 1 September 2026, they participated in several operations alongside Territory Housing targeting antisocial behaviour, while also conducting proactive point-of-sale interventions that resulted in 41 individuals being refused service.
· During this period, PPSOs continued to address frontline antisocial behaviour concerns, seizing and destroying 133 litres of alcohol and issuing 62 Banned Drinker Orders, contributing to improved community safety across Katherine.
The Chief Minister concluded: “Reducing crime remains the number one priority of my Government and in just two years, we are reversing Labor’s crime crisis and we’ve pulled crime back to 2017 levels.
“PPSOs are already having a major positive impact across the Territory and the Finocchiaro CLP Government will continue to back our NT Police Force to deliver safer communities.”
