MEDIA NOTE: The media release published on 16 February 2023 at 5.06pm was not approved by the Police Commissioner and was distributed in error.

The Northern Territory Police Commissioner, Jamie Chalker APM is disappointed with the comments made by Judge Neil in the Northern Territory Local Court on 15 February 2023 which described the work of the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) as a ‘transfer to Siberia.’

These comments were published in the media on 15-16 February 2023.

The Commissioner would like to acknowledge the hard work of the multi-disciplined team at the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) who may have been hurt by these comments. The staff at JESCC work in a challenging environment to support the safety of the Northern Territory community; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

The Commissioner would like to thank the JESCC staff for their dedication in providing an emergency response capability, which is vital to maintaining the safety of our communities.