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AAP
AAP
Lloyd Jones

Offending rates drop in crime-troubled territory

NT Acting Commander Kirsten Engels says cutting crime in Palmerston remains a priority. (Lloyd Jones/AAP PHOTOS)

Offending rates continue to drop in a crime-troubled territory apart from one urban centre bucking the trend amid a law-and-order crackdown.

The Northern Territory's latest statistics show the number of victims of crime fell by 12.1 per cent, resulting in 3225 fewer in the year to April 2026.

Domestic violence assaults were down 13 per cent, total assaults down 10 per cent, house break-ins down 26 per cent, commercial break-ins down 37 per cent and motor vehicle theft down 25 per cent.

But in the city of Palmerston, near Darwin, there was a 13 per cent increase in domestic violence assaults, a 19 per cent increase in motor vehicle theft and an eight per cent rise in total offences.

The figures show a 27 per cent decline in total offences in Alice Springs, a 12 per cent decline in Darwin, a nine per cent drop in Katherine and a four per cent drop in Tennant Creek.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said in response to the figures there was still a lot of work to do as part of her government's law-and-order crackdown.

budgeet
The NT budget included a record $1.73 billion for law and order measures. (Lloyd Jones/AAP PHOTOS)

"We are seeing some hard facts showing that our strong approach is creating safer communities for Territorians," she said in a statement.

The figures pre-date police launching the two-month Operation Ventura in May, a multi-agency effort to reduce anti-social behaviour and offending, and improve community safety in the Palmerston area.

Acting Commander Kirsten Engels said Palmerston remained a priority for police with the latest statistics presenting a mixed picture, with less property crime but more family violence and assaults.

But the overall downward trend across key offence categories was a positive outcome for the community, she said in Darwin on Friday.

"They are a credit to the commitment of our frontline members who work around the clock to prevent offending, investigate crime and hold offenders accountable."

Operation Ventura in Palmerston had delivered strong results in the past four weeks, Commander Engels said.

Police had tipped out more than 1324 litres of alcohol, conducted more than 1800 high-visibility patrols in known hot spots, wanded more than 740 people and issued more than 140 banned drinker orders.

Palmerston
Palmerston bucked the trend of NT falling crime rates with some offences rising over the past year. (Lloyd Jones/AAP PHOTOS)

The number of transient people in Palmerston, many sleeping rough, contributed to the higher crime rates, Commander Engels said.

The NT budget, which passed on Thursday, included a record $1.73 billion for law and order to put more police on the frontline, support courts to tackle the causes of crime and upgrade prisons.

Meanwhile, in a shock announcement Labor Opposition Leader Selina Uibo said newly elected Nightcliff MP Ed Smelt had been elected the party's deputy leader, replacing Daly MP Dheran Young.

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