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Local Government supports more police on remote communities

The President of the Local Government Association today supported the recommendations of the Valentin Report into “Policing in Remote Indigenous Communities”, which was released last week.

“LGANT met with John Valentin last year and we are very pleased with his recommendations”, said Alderman Moir. “While we fully understand the difficulty in recruiting to remote areas, it is clear from the figures in the report that Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory are under policed compared to other remote areas of Australia”.

“It is evident in the report that while the NT has the highest rate of police per capita as a whole, remote Indigenous communities in the NT have the lowest rate per capita and this is something that needs to be urgently addressed’, said Alderman Moir. “Whether it’s a re-allocation of existing police resources or recruiting more police urgent action needs to be taken. Hopefully some of these costs are catered for in the Northern Territory 2007/2008 budget”, said Alderman Moir.

The Federal Government has indicated a willingness to fund the construction of Police Stations and housing in those communities given priority in the Valentin report and I urge the NT Government to take up this offer”, said Alderman Moir. Ends

28 May 2007

Contact: LGANT President Alderman Kerry Moir 0419 303 378

Manager Communications Phil Maynard8936 2890 0429 090 833