NT Police launch anti-racism plan to drive change

The NT Police Force has announced an anti-racism strategy as it battles claims of rampant racist attitudes within its ranks.

Two key elements of the plan are anti-racism training for all employees and boosting Aboriginal employment within the force.

The strategy’s architect, Former police officer Leanne Liddle is the driving force and has said the action plan is intended to build a “professional, fairer and more accountable police force”.

In a joint announcement by NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole and Ms Liddle, the Commissioner said the strategy was not a witch-hunt, but. A”pathway forward”.

Uncomfortable truth

“It’s about building a police force that truly reflects the territory that we serve, where every officer and every Territorian is treated with fairness and respect,” the Commissioner said.

Ms Liddle said the plan was an opportunity to confront racism in the force with “honesty and courage”.

“Systemic racism is an uncomfortable truth, but it is not a reflection of every officer. Instead it is about accepting that racism has informed the structures that have shaped policing for generations,” she said.

Four key areas

“We know that we can’t fix what we don’t face, and today is all about launching a road map that ensures that we are a professional, fairer and more accountable police force that serves and protects everyone.”

The strategy is made up of four key priority areas: “Serve and protect”, “eliminate racism”, “represent and reflect our territory” and “be accountable”.

The plan also aims to increase Aboriginal employment to 30 per cent across all staffing levels.