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Twenty different radio advertisements have been recorded by ten different ACPO's in the hope of reaching both local and national Indigenous people through both Radio Larrakia and Australian Indigenous Radio.

These advertisements couldn't be more timely, following the tragic deaths of four Indigenous people if the past few days, one near Belyuen on Cox Peninsula Road, one in Ramingining and two from separate incidents in Central Australia.

Over the past five years, half of all fatalities on our roads have been an Indigenous person - a massive over representation given the Territory Indigenous population is around 32%.

The new NT Police Indigenous Road Safety Initiative is part of the STARS project - Stop Territory Aboriginal Road Sadness.

Superintendent of the Indigenous Policing Development Division, Tony Fuller said Aboriginal Community Police Officers are well respected and well placed to deliver road safety messages to their local communities as well as the wider Indigenous population.

"These road safety messages are delivered by ACPO's in both English and language with the full support of Radio Larrakia.

"Attending crash scenes, informing family members and the tragic loss to the family and community occurs all too often and in many cases, could have been prevented.

"The ACPO's are all extremely passionate to do something to stop this sadness so these advertisements are just one initiative as part of an ongoing project and in addition to a number of initiatives coordinated by other agencies.

"The background music to the ads was written and performed by Senior ACPO Bernie Devine and his brother Chris Devine with Indigenous Constable Allen Gebadi. The three performed the song at the Barunga Festival earlier in the year." Supt Fuller said.

Further activities planned by the ACPO's include the development of a training and awareness package that they will be able to deliver in their regional communities.


Media contact:
Amy Sloan
8922 3365