The Northern Territory Police Force's recruitment blitz.
Source: 7.30 NT | Duration: 7min 36sec
LOUISA REBGETZ, PRESENTER: The Northern Territory police force is just weeks away from receiving its second top-to-bottom audit. In 2003, former Queensland Police Commissioner Jim O'Sullivan handed down a damning report calling for the immediate recruitment of more police. The force has grown by 400 members since then but the debate around the need for more police resources continues. NT police has launched an aggressive interstate and overseas recruitment campaign and hopes this will meet the report's expectations. There's been a record number of recruits this year as a result of a 53 million dollar deal with the Immigration Department. Phoebe Stewart reports.
PHOEBE STEWART, REPORTER: These are some of the Territory's newest police officers, getting their licence to use lethal force. 14 New Zealanders have come across the Tasman to police in the outback. It will be the first time they've carried a firearm on their belt - as Kiwi cops keep their guns in their vehicles.
BARBARA WINIKERREI, NEW ZEALAND RECRUIT: Initially I sort of thought that's going to feel very weird. I'm going to feel very conscience of having it on my hip. But now that we've had the training, I just feel that little bit more safer - you just make sure that in the back of your mind you're very aware of when and where you're going to use that.
CMDR JEANETTE KERR, NT POLICE: Initially we thought oh that's going to add another dimension to our training but when we did a skills gap analysis they actually are all trained in glock and they're all trained in ASR and taser, the same as we are. They have all the same tactical options - the only difference is they don't carry it permanently on their side-arms.
PHOEBE STEWART: The Territory's expensive recruitment campaign targeted Kiwi officers who are subject to a public service pay-freeze. 25 officers applied to join the Territory's ranks. Wellington constable Barbara Winikerrei jumped at the chance.
BARBARA WINIKERREI, NEW ZEALAND RECRUIT: I converted over the amount of money that I'd be getting paid - it was pretty much double, getting a free house as well and also the fact that it was going to be totally different; coming to a totally different area and, like outback adventure I thought.
GREG O'CONNOR, NZ POLICE ASSOCIATION: Most of the people who are going are the ones at that really most valuable stage of their career - around about that 8 to 10 year when are probably at their best so it's certainly Australia's gain, our loss.
CMDR JEANETTE KERR, NT POLICE: Everyone's knocking to get into the Northern Territory police. We have experienced officers from New Zealand, Tasmania, every other jurisdiction in Australia. We also have officers recently emigrated here from China, Ireland, Malaysia, Pakistan.
PHOEBE STEWART: The recruits have been put through their paces in a 10 week accelerated course.
IAN NANKIVELL, VICTORIAN RECRUIT: It's been extremely difficult. I'm no spring chicken - I was only six years off my maximum retirement age or the retirement age I could have been financially fixed up in Victoria.
PHOEBE STEWART: 46-year-old Ian Nankivell says he'll graduate on the same wage as his sergeant's pay in Victoria.
IAN NANKIVELL, VICTORIAN RECRUIT: After 24 years I just felt my career wasn't going anywhere - there's so many people trying to get promoted and the ads kept saying you know the things like seven weeks leave, great promotional opportunities, you get your housing and I thought well yeah, maybe the opportunities up there are way better for me.
PHOEBE STEWART: In a Territory first, the force has given all of its police auxiliaries and Aboriginal Community Police Officers the chance to become frontline constables. The group is learning how to give evidence in court. Community police officer Damien Clarke is looking forward to returning to his remote post in Wadeye as a constable.
DAMIEN CLARKE, NT POLICE: Someone who people can look up to and someone who people can approach and be comfortable with talking about their problems and I don't know just being a presence in the community.
PHOEBE STEWART: In a normal year, the police force aim to replace around 40 officers lost through natural attrition. But this year, the force has recruited a record 139 constables. Disturbances at Immigration detention centres have put pressure on police. The Immigration Department is funding 94 of the new recruits to help bolster the Territory's ranks. The Country Liberal Government has also pledged to recruit another 120 officers.
VINCE KELLY, NT POLICE ASSOCIATION: So if my maths are right that's about 200 extra police over the next 18 months to 2 years. It's an enormous number of police coming into a police force of this size. Our police college, in my view, will struggle somewhat to meet the demand.
CMDR JEANETTE KERR, NT POLICE: It hasn't been without our challenges, but I think we could put a bit more through.
PHOEBE STEWART: Many of this year's new recruits are heading to some of the Territory's most remote areas. Barbara Winikerrei has been posted to Katherine.
BARBARA WINIKERREI, NEW ZEALAND RECRUIT: I think I'm going to see some things that are going to be quite heartbreaking. I'm not sure if alcohol is as such a big factor but it's definitely very similar - alcohol is basically the cause of everything back home.
CMDR JEANETTE KERR, NT POLICE: The heat for some of the people from down south and across the ditch will be a bit of a challenge for them. Obviously you know some of the areas of Indigenous disadvantage is going to be confronting for some people, depending where they've worked and what sort of communities they've worked in before but they're very, very focused on coming here and making a difference.
PHOEBE STEWART: A third of this graduating class is being sent to Alice Springs where increasing rates of violence has prompted calls for more police. The aggressive recruitment campaign has been applauded, but there's concern about striking the right balance.
VINCE KELLY, NT POLICE ASSOCIATION: Well I guess it's going to be a real challenge for them. I mean the Territory is vastly different to New Zealand, particularly some of the country areas of New Zealand. The thing about interstate and overseas recruitment is that the Commissioner of Police needs to be careful that there's a balance and I think the real goal for the Northern Territory Government, the Northern Territory Commissioner should be to ensure that the highest number of Territorians possible are recruited into the police.
CMDR JEANETTE KERR, NT POLICE: If we actually go back and have a look at our numbers we've recruit this year I would say that about 60 percent are local Territorians.
PHOEBE STEWART: The graduates say they've got a hard job ahead, but they're up for the challenge.
IAN NANKIVELL, VICTORIAN RECRUIT: My biggest regret about the college is that I should have come here 10 years ago, 15 years ago - I'd be used to the goddamn heat by then.
BARBARA WINIKERREI, NEW ZEALAND RECRUIT: I'm just going to get out there. I'm going to do you know a good couple of years, learn all my basic ground rules - have that firmly implanted and think about branching out. But at least I know that there's a world of opportunity out there.
CMDR JEANETTE KERR, NT POLICE: To see the fruits of our labour come out the other end is really you know. They're really confident, independent young police officers, well not all of them so young but they're going to go out and just be an absolute service to the Territory community so we're very proud.
LOUISA REBGETZ: Phoebe Stewart with that story.