Representatives of the Northern Territory Police and the MacDonnell Shire will sign an historic agreement tomorrow (Fri Aug 20) in relation to new partnership arrangements between Night Patrols and Police.

Superintendent Kym Davies said the Memorandum of Understanding was 18 months in the making and would form the basis for how Police and Night Patrols would work together in local communities.

"Night Patrols, in various forms, have been operating in the Northern Territory since the early 1990s," Supt Davies said.

"Then, since June 2007 when the Australian Government announced the NT Emergency Response, more Night Patrols have progressively been established under the auspices of the newly created Shires with funding from the Federal Attorney General's department.

"The Memorandum of Understanding we are now signing will define the way in which Police and Night Patrols will work together by establishing the basis for the Service Level Agreements which will be signed by Police and Night Patrols at the local community level.

"In simple terms, these agreements will outline what Police and Night Patrols will contribute to the partnership at a local level.," Supt Davies said.

" For instance, the role of Night Patrols will not just be to remove intoxicated people, but to assist in the resolution of problems as they occur. It is also expected they will be instrumental in educating new police to the region by providing information about family relationships, social structures and community demographics.

"Police, on the other hand will help train patrollers with things like First Aid, radio procedures and four-wheel-drive training.

"We see this signing as a very positive step forward in developing good working partnerships to better enhance community safety."
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