Darwin Police arrested seven protestors this morning after they entered the grounds of the Wickham Point Detention Centre.

About 30 people gathered in the car park of the centre to stage a peaceful protest. Some of the group entered onto the land of the Detention Centre and as a result they were arrested for trespassing.

“The protestors were given every opportunity to move off Detention Centre land of their own volition but they would not leave,” said Acting Commander Hollamby of the Darwin Metropolitan Command.

“They were taken to the Palmerston Police Station where they were issued with a trespass notice and were released to be summonsed.

“NT Police initiated Operation Summer to manage the activities of demonstrators during a national convergence on Darwin which saw about 40 people travel from interstate to participate in the event. NT Police met with protest organisers, along with representatives from the Department of Immigration and Centre managers to facilitate an orderly series of events.

“The Easter weekend is traditionally a busy time for NT Police and the protests have been a distraction from our policing role. Fortunately, the protestors have been generally well behaved," said Acting Commander Hollamby.

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