Police feature in complaints to territory ombudsman
More than 40 per cent of complaints to a crime-troubled territory's ombudsman have been made against police and the prison system.
Some prisoners can't even lay complaints due to prison lockdowns or being held in watchhouses, Northern Territory Acting Ombudsman Candice Maclean has told a parliamentary estimates hearing.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro defended the reintroduction of spit hoods for youths in custody at the hearing on Tuesday, saying her government was delivering on an election process to crackdown on crime and protect officers.
Ms Maclean said that in 2023-24 there were 2010 approaches to the ombudsman's office, including 369 complaints against police and 453 against correctional services.
As of March 31, 2025, there had been 1820 approaches, including 498 police complaints, 327 against correctional services, 521 against government departments and 39 involving local councils.
"Towards the end of this financial year we expect over 600 police complaints which we consider may be due to increased police presences and operational activity," the Ombudsman said.
The ombudsman's office worked closely with the NT Police professional standards command to ensure fairness of process to both complainants and accused officers, she said.
Around 430 correctional services complaints were predicted towards the end of the financial year, a slightly reduced total than expected.
"We consider this decrease may be due to a number of factors including inability of prisoners to access our office potentially due to lockdowns and being accommodated in watchhouses," the ombudsman told the hearing.
Ms Maclean said her office was engaging with NT Corrections on how things could be improved.
Opposition Leader Selina Uibo asked if the government accepted the previous ombudsman's findings on the risks and lack of evidence supporting the reintroduction of spit hoods for children.
The previous Labor government banned their use but the Country Liberal Party government allowed police and correctional officers to use them again after winning power last year.
The previous NT ombudsman, Peter Shoyer, had recommended the devices not be used in any settings.
In response to Ms Uibo's question Ms Finocchiaro made no apologies for their reintroduction, saying it was an election commitment so "the provision of that tool for police had been provided".
In 2023 the United Nations committee against torture recommended Australia "take all necessary measures to end the use of spit hoods in all circumstances, across all jurisdictions".
The Australian Federal Police and the NSW, Queensland and South Australian police forces all ban the use of the hoods.
Ms Finocchiaro said her government had made law and order the cornerstone of its first budget with a record $1.5 billion investment in corrections, courts and police.
The NT government has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 and introduced tougher bail laws.
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