POLICE ADMINISTRATION (FEES) REGULATIONS 1985

The regulations rely on several defined terms and mechanisms that are essential to understanding when and how fees apply.

Revenue unit. Most fees in the Schedule and regulation 2A are expressed in “revenue units”. The regulations do not define a revenue unit, but they are defined in other Northern Territory legislation (likely the Fees and Charges Act or similar). A revenue unit is a monetary amount that is indexed periodically by regulation or determination. This means that the dollar value of fees changes automatically when the revenue unit value is updated, without requiring amendment to these regulations themselves. The effect is that the real cost of police services rises with inflation or government policy set elsewhere. The 2024 amendment (SL No. 24, 2024) updated some fees, but the revenue unit value would have been adjusted through separate instruments. For practical purposes, a revenue unit in the Northern Territory as at 2024 is approximately $1.60 (though this is not stated in the regulations and must be confirmed externally). This external dependency creates a compliance risk: someone reading only these regulations will not know the actual dollar amount without cross referencing the current revenue unit value.

False alarm. Defined in regulation 2A(4). It occurs where a member of the Police Force attends premises in the course of duty in response to an alarm installed for the protection of the premises and, “in the opinion of the member responsible for the investigation of the incident”, the alarm was activated otherwise than by a person’s unlawful conduct. This is a subjective test: the member’s opinion is the trigger for counting the false alarm. It does not require a determination of fault, only that the activation was not due to criminal conduct. This means a system malfunction, accidental trigger, or even malicious false alarm by a non intruder (e.g., a prank) could all count as false alarms for fee purposes so long as they were not caused by unlawful conduct (which likely means an actual breaking or entering or similar). The rule leaves operational discretion and potential for inconsistent application, but it also allows police to avoid charging for genuine criminal activations.

Sporting or entertainment event. Defined in regulation 3 as a “sports or other event organised or promoted for the purpose of making a profit except where the Commissioner is satisfied that the whole of any profit is to be applied to a purpose that is charitable, benevolent, philanthropic or beneficial to the community.” This is a critical carve out: events run by charities or community organisations that apply all profit to a public benefit purpose are exempt from the fee if the Commissioner is satisfied. However, the Commissioner’s satisfaction is not automatically given; organisers must seek exemption, and there is no set procedure in these regulations. Events that are not profit making (e.g., break even or loss making) are still captured if they are “organised or promoted for the purpose of making a profit”, which seems to focus on the intention of the organiser. Commercial events clearly fall within scope. The consequence is that many community festivals, school events, or not for profit functions may be subject to police fees unless they apply for and receive a Commissioner’s exemption. This adds a bureaucratic step that could deter event organisers.

Services provided in respect of a sporting or entertainment event. Defined broadly in regulation 3(3). It includes: policing the event area (whether enclosed or not); policing designated car parks and controlling traffic at entrances, exits and on routes specified for the event; policing the immediate vicinity outside the area; and planning and administering a strategy in relation to the event. The definition also includes any “support service” as defined. Critically, “travelling time” is included in the fee calculation for services provided for these events (and for special guard duty). Travelling time is defined as the time reasonably taken by a member to travel from a police station (or for support services, from where they are kept) to the area where services will be provided, including the time to return after services are no longer required. This means event organisers are charged for police travel time, which can be substantial if the event is remote. For non event services such as escorts, guard duty, interviews, reports and forensic work, the Schedule does not include travelling time as a separate element except for escorts and support services where time based charges explicitly include travelling time.

Support service. Defined as “a police aircraft, a police car, a police horse, a police motorboat, a police motorcycle or a police van provided to enable a member to carry out duties in respect of a sports or entertainment event.” A vehicle used only to transport a member to the area where the member will carry out duties is expressly excluded from the definition. This distinction is important: if a police van ferries equipment and officers to an event and then remains to be used as a command post, it may be a support service. If it simply drops off officers and leaves, it is not. The fee rates for support services in Schedule item 4 are per half hour (including travelling time) and range from 25 revenue units for a horse, motorcycle, car or van up to 700 revenue units for an aircraft (twin engine). Escorts have a different structure: a flat 200 revenue units for the first two hours plus 50 per half hour thereafter for each member, plus per kilometre charges for vehicles.

Half day/daily salary. For witness fees, a day is calculated by dividing the member’s gross normal fortnightly salary by 10; a half day by dividing by 20. “Gross normal fortnightly salary” is not defined but seems to refer to the ordinary salary before deductions. The formula does not account for overtime or allowances, consistent with the prohibition on demanding overtime. The result is that the witness fee may be lower than the member’s actual cost to the force (since overtime is excluded), potentially providing a small incentive for litigants not to settle or to call police witnesses unnecessarily.

The regulations affect a wide range of private individuals, businesses and organisations, as well as police officers and other government agencies.

Litigants in civil proceedings. Anyone who wishes to call a Northern Territory police officer as a witness in a civil court hearing must pay the prescribed fee under regulation 2. This includes plaintiffs, defendants and third parties. The fee is calculated on salary, travel costs and allowances, and can be substantial if the officer is stationed far from the court or if the hearing lasts multiple days. The person calling the witness must pay in advance or agree to pay, and cannot be charged overtime (reg 2(3)). This affects budgeting for litigation, particularly in tort actions where police evidence is needed (e.g., traffic accidents, assault claims). Small claims and self represented litigants may be particularly burdened.

Occupiers and owners of premises with alarm systems. Regulation 2A directly targets owners or occupiers of premises that generate false alarms more than three times in 28 days. The fee of 200 revenue units per subsequent attendance can add up quickly if alarms are faulty or easily triggered. This provides a strong financial incentive to maintain alarm systems, correct false alarm sources, and minimise nuisance calls. However, the trigger is relatively generous: three false alarms in 28 days before any fee, and a 90 day reset. Systems that generate occasional false alarms (e.g., weather triggered) may avoid fees. Small businesses and residential owners are exposed, though the Commissioner’s discretion to waive the fee provides a safety valve.

Organisers of sporting and entertainment events. Commercial event organisers are the primary target of regulation 3 and the Schedule. They must pay for police services if three or more police are present (including planning time). The fees cover not just the event itself but also travel time, support services (aircraft, boats, vehicles), and any special guard duty. This is a significant cost factor for concerts, festivals, sports events and similar gatherings. The profitability intention test matters: a community event that makes a profit but uses it for charitable purposes can avoid the fee if the Commissioner is satisfied. However, obtaining that satisfaction requires an application and likely evidence of the profit destination. Events that break even or operate at a loss but are organised for profit (e.g., a business event) still fall within scope. The two member threshold means that events where only one or two police are needed are free, but that may not be feasible for larger events.

Applicants for police reports and certificates. Individuals and organisations that need reports on accidents, stolen property, passport or visa matters, national police certificates (for employment, volunteering, residency), or facts of charge reports must pay the Schedule fees. These fees are relatively low (e.g., 50 revenue units for a report plus 60c per copy page). However, the cost may be a barrier for low income individuals, particularly for compulsory police checks for volunteering or licensing. The volunteer discount for national police certificates (12 revenue units for name check only vs 62 for non volunteers) partially addresses this, but the discount applies only to name checks, not fingerprint checks.

Users of other police services. This includes: people requesting fingerprinting (48 revenue units per set), soliciting interview with police for information (50 revenue units per half hour), seeking independent forensic services (125 revenue units per hour for general examination, 185 for DNA analysis), or purchasing photographic or photocopy services. These fees affect private investigators, legal practitioners, insurance companies, media organisations, and individuals pursuing private enquiries.

Police officers themselves. Members must comply with the regulations when charging for services. They are prohibited from demanding overtime for civil court appearances (reg 2(3)), and must apply the correct fee structure. The Opinion based false alarm definition in reg 2A(4) places a responsibility on the investigating member to assess each incident. Officers involved in providing services for events must record time and resources accurately for billing.

Other government agencies. The regulations sometimes apply between agencies. For example, item 13 of the Schedule states fees for “independent forensic services to clients who are not Agencies”. “Agencies” likely means Northern Territory government agencies, so private clients pay, but internal government forensic work may be free. Similarly, the facts of charge report to a worker screening unit (item 12A) has a fee of 63 revenue units, suggesting even a government screening unit must pay. Inter agency charging increases overall government costs, which may be passed on.

Duty to pay witness fees. A person who calls a police officer as a witness in a civil proceeding must pay the prescribed fee (reg 2(1)). This is a precondition to the officer’s attendance; if the fee is not paid, the officer may not be obliged to attend, though the regulations do not expressly state a right to refuse. The person is also responsible for travel costs, meals and accommodation if applicable. The officer has a right not to be asked for overtime payments (reg 2(3)), meaning a litigant cannot be charged extra for after hours attendance, but also means the officer cannot demand it.

Duty to pay false alarm fees. The occupier (or owner if unoccupied) of premises must pay 200 revenue units per attendance for false alarm calls after the third in a 28 day period (reg 2A(1)). This is an automatic liability; the fee is “recoverable as a debt due and payable to the Territory”. The person has a right to rely on the 90 day reset: if 90 days pass without a false alarm attendance, the count of previous false alarms is disregarded (reg 2A(2)). Also, the person has a right to ask the Commissioner to waive the fee in the circumstances of the particular case (reg 2A(3)), but no formal process is prescribed.

Duty to pay for other services. Anyone who requests or receives a service listed in the Schedule must pay the fee specified, unless an exemption applies. This is not explicitly stated as a debt, but presumably the police can refuse service if payment is not forthcoming, or can invoice and recover as a debt. The duty is conditional on the service being provided; if police do not provide the service, no fee arises.

Exemption for small events. Organisers of sporting or entertainment events with two or fewer police members present are not charged a fee (reg 3(2)). This creates a right to free police presence if the event can be managed with minimal policing. However, the exemption does not apply if more than two members are present; there is no partial exemption for the first two members.

Commissioner’s discretion. The Commissioner may decide that a false alarm fee is not payable in a particular case (reg 2A(3)). There is no equivalent discretion for other fees, except the implicit power to not charge (not exercised) or to enter into agreements. The regulation does not specify criteria for exercising this discretion, so it is entirely at the Commissioner’s judgment. This creates uncertainty for alarm owners: even if they meet the trigger conditions, there is a chance of waiver, but no right to it.

Right to receive specific services. The regulations do not confer a right to receive any service. They set fees for services that the Police Force may provide, but do not oblige police to offer those services to the public. For instance, the fee for forensic services is for “independent forensic services to clients who are not Agencies”; it does not require police to accept private clients. Similarly, the fee for “interviewing a member for the purpose of acquiring information” suggests that police may charge a third party who wants to extract information, but police retain discretion whether to grant the interview. Thus, the regulations are about pricing, not access.

No right to refund or reduction for unsatisfactory service. The regulations do not provide for refunds if the service is not completed, is delayed, or is of poor quality. The fee is for the provision of the service, not for a particular outcome. For example, a report about stolen property is charged at 50 revenue units plus copying costs, regardless of whether it helps the requestor.

Record keeping and invoicing. Police have the duty to maintain records of attendance times, travel distances and salaries for witness fees and for event services. For escorts, kilometre charges require accurate odometer records. For false alarms, police must keep track of attendance dates to count the 28 day and 90 day periods. Without such records, fees cannot be properly calculated or challenged.

The regulations do not impose criminal penalties for non payment or non compliance. Enforcement is primarily through civil debt recovery.

False alarm fees. Regulation 2A(1) expressly provides that the attendance fee is “recoverable as a debt due and payable to the Territory”. This means if the occupier or owner does not pay, the Territory can sue them in a court of competent jurisdiction (likely the Local Court of the Northern Territory or Supreme Court depending on amount). The debt is statutory, not contractual. There is no apparent provision for late payment interest or penalties beyond the debt itself. However, the fee of 200 revenue units per attendance can accumulate rapidly: five attendances in 28 days would be two billable attendances at 400 revenue units total (assuming the first three were free, the fourth and fifth are charged). Depending on the revenue unit value, this could be several hundred dollars. The Territory would need to prove the attendances occurred, that they were false alarms (as defined), and that the threshold was met. The subjective opinion of the member is central. A defendant could challenge whether the alarm was in fact false, or whether the member’s opinion was reasonably formed, but the regulation does not require objective proof, only the member’s opinion.

Other fees. The regulations do not specify how fees under regulation 3 and the Schedule are to be recovered. Presumably, they are contractual debts: the requestor agrees to pay for the service, and if they do not, the Territory can sue for the amount. Alternatively, police may require payment in advance before providing the service, which is common practice. Failure to pay would result in the service not being provided. There is no penalty for requesting a service and then refusing to pay, beyond the debt.

No criminal liability for misuse. The regulations do not create offences for making false statements to avoid fees, or for failing to report false alarms. The alarm owner is only liable for the fee; there is no penalty for having an alarm that generates false alarms. This means the cost of false alarms is limited to the fee, which may be less than the cost of fixing a faulty system. The regulations rely on economic deterrence rather than compulsion.

Liability of officers. Regulation 2(3) prohibits a member from demanding overtime from the person calling them as a witness. If a member does demand overtime, they may be in breach of the Act or internal police discipline, but the regulations do not provide a penalty. The remedy for the payor would be to complain to the Commissioner or refuse to pay, potentially forcing the member to comply.

Enforcement by third parties. There is no private right of action under these regulations. Only the Territory can enforce debts. However, a party who believes they have been overcharged could challenge the fee in court on the basis that it does not comply with the regulations. For example, if police charged for a false alarm when there were only two attendances in 28 days, the payment could be refused and defended if the Territory sues.

No power to seize property or withhold services. The regulations do not authorise police to seize property for non payment, or to refuse emergency services. False alarm fees are separate from emergency response; police must still attend genuine emergencies even if fees are owed. There is no power to cut off alarm monitoring or immobilise vehicles.

Burden of proof. For any fee dispute, the Territory bears the onus of proving the fee is payable: that a civil witness was called, that false alarms occurred, that services were provided. For false alarms, the opinion of the member is evidence, but it is not conclusive; a court could find that the member’s opinion was wrong. The subjective test may make it harder for the land owner to win but not impossible.

Police Administration Act 1978 (NT). These regulations are made under section 167(2) of that Act. The Act itself deals with the structure, powers and duties of the Police Force. The regulations only deal with fees; they do not confer police powers. Any dispute over the validity of a fee would ultimately turn on whether it is consistent with the Act. For example, regulation 2A(4) defines false alarm by reference to the member’s opinion; this may interact with the Act’s provisions on police duties and powers to enter premises.

Fees and Charges Act (NT) and related legislation. The use of “revenue unit” throughout the Schedule and regulation 2A indicates that the actual dollar amount is set by other legislation, likely the Fees and Charges Act or a specific Fees and Charges (Revenue Units) Regulation. That legislation will define the value of a revenue unit and may provide for indexation or periodic updates. Anyone reading these regulations must cross reference that instrument to know the current fee. This interaction increases compliance complexity.

Criminal Code (NT) and criminal procedure laws. The definition of false alarm excludes activations due to “unlawful conduct”. If a person commits an offence such as falsely reporting an emergency (which may overlap with a false alarm), the police attendance would not be counted as a false alarm for fee purposes. The criminal law takes precedence: police respond to genuine criminal activations without cost to the owner. Also, witness fees in civil proceedings interact with rules of evidence and costs in civil litigation. A litigant’s entitlement to recover witness fees from the other party (by costs order) may be limited to the prescribed fee. The regulations therefore cap the amount that can be claimed for police witnesses.

Police Administration (Discipline) Regulations and internal policies. The prohibition on demanding overtime (reg 2(3)) likely reinforces internal discipline rules. An officer who demands overtime from a civil litigant could face disciplinary action. The regulations do not create a contractual right for the litigant but provide a strong basis to refuse payment.

National police certificate framework. Item 12 of the Schedule provides for fees for “a national police certificate involving: (a) a name check only of a person; (b) a name and fingerprint check; (c) a replacement certificate”. This interacts with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s national police checking system and with state/territory laws for working with children, volunteering, firearms licences, visa applications, etc. The NT Police Force acts as an issuing agency for the national certificate. The fee discounts for volunteers (12 revenue units for name check, 6 for replacement) are set by NT regulation and may be higher or lower than those in other jurisdictions. The regulations do not specify whether the fee covers the national check cost or includes a NT administrative component.

Worker screening legislation. Regulation 12A provides a fee for “providing a facts of charge report to a worker screening unit”. This indicates that NT Police charge for producing reports used in screening for work with vulnerable people (e.g., under the Care and Protection of Children Act or Disability Services Act). The fee is set at 63 revenue units. This is a specific cross service cost recovery between the Police Force and the screening agency.

Planning and development laws. For large events, event organisers may need to enter into a police services agreement under these regulations as a condition of an event permit or liquor licence. Local councils or the Director of Licensing may require proof that police costs have been arranged. The regulations do not directly impose such requirements, but they create the pricing mechanism that permits can refer to.

Freedom of Information and privacy laws. Police may hold information that a person wants. The regulations provide fees for reports (accident, stolen property, passport/visa) and for interviews. An applicant who seeks access to police information under the Information Act (NT) may be charged under that Act, not under these regulations. However, if the applicant wants a specific report that police produce as a service (e.g., a facts of charge report), the fee under these regulations may apply. Overlap could arise; the specific fee may override the general FOI fee.

Private contracts. The regulations do not prevent parties from agreeing to different fees for police services, but the Commissioner or the member must still comply with the regulations. A private agreement that pays a higher fee may be unenforceable if it exceeds the prescribed fee, but nothing in the regulations prohibits paying more voluntarily. Conversely, a private agreement to pay less would likely be unenforceable if it conflicts with the regulations, but the Territory could choose to charge less (e.g., by Commissioner’s discretion under reg 2A(3)).

The regulations have been amended frequently since their notification on 9 October 1985. The endnotes list 14 amending instruments up to the current version as at 31 July 2024.

The original 1985 regulations contained only regulations 1, 2, and 3, with a Schedule likely shorter. Regulation 2A was inserted by the Amendments of the Police Administration (Fees) Regulations (SL No. 52, 1987) - a relatively early addition addressing false alarm fees. That same 1987 amendment also amended regulation 3 and the Schedule.

The Schedule was substituted several times: first by SL No. 62, 1992 (which also substituted regulation 3); then again by SL No. 70, 1992 (minor amendments); then substituted entirely by SL No. 38, 1999; again by SL No. 13, 2004; and lastly by SL No. 34, 2009. The current Schedule emerged from the 2009 substitution, with further amendments in 2013, 2017 and 2024.

The 2009 substitution (Fees and Charges Amendment Regulations 2009 (SL No. 34, 2009)) appears to have been part of a broader reform of fees and charges across NT legislation, aligning fee structures with the revenue unit system. Before that, the Schedule used dollar amounts in some items; after 2009, all fees are in revenue units or per kilometre rates.

The most recent amendments are:

• SL No. 39, 2013: amended regulation 2A (updated the fee to 200 revenue units from a lower amount) and made changes to the Schedule (items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 - likely updating revenue unit amounts).
• SL No. 13, 2017: amended the Schedule (items 8, 12, 12A, 13, 14), introducing new items such as item 12A (facts of charge report to worker screening unit) and updating amounts.
• SL No. 24, 2024: the most recent amendment, which commenced 31 July 2024. It amended the Schedule, presumably updating revenue unit amounts and possibly adjusting the volunteer discount for national police certificates (item 12). The specific changes are not detailed in the reproduced text, but the regulation number is r 4.

The amendment history reveals that the Schedule is the most frequently changed part, reflecting policy adjustments to cost recovery and inflation. The witness fee calculation (reg 2) has remained unchanged since 1985 in its structure, though the underlying salary amounts are determined by the Tribunals under Part III of the Act, which are external. Regulation 2A has been amended at least four times (1987, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013) to update the fee amount and the revenue unit reference.

Notably, the regulations have never been remade or completely reissued; they remain from 1985, with a patchwork of amendments. This creates potential for confusion: the current version must be read with all amendments, which are listed in the endnotes but require careful tracking.

The regulations themselves do not record any litigation history. No cases are cited in the text. This is consistent with the low stakes nature of the fees (typically hundreds or low thousands of dollars) and the clear statutory framework. Disputes over fees under these regulations are likely rare and would be resolved by negotiation or administrative review rather than court proceedings.

That said, there are potential grounds for litigation that could arise. A land owner could challenge a false alarm fee on the basis that the member’s opinion that the alarm was false was unreasonable. A court would likely apply administrative law principles to review the member’s opinion, but given the subjective wording (“in the opinion of the member”), the threshold for review is high: the opinion must be formed in good faith and not be irrational. This is a limited basis for challenge.

Another possible challenge is whether a service falls within the definition of “sporting or entertainment event”. For example, a rodeo or a dog show may not be clearly sports or entertainment; the definition is circular (“sports or other event organised … for profit”). The Commissioner’s exemption for charitable events may be challenged if denied unreasonably.

There could also be disputes about whether an event organiser is liable for support service fees when only two members are on site but a support vehicle is present. Regulation 3(2) exempts fees “for services provided in respect of a sporting or entertainment event except where more than 2 members are present to carry out duties.” A police car with a driver could be considered a “support service” provided separately, potentially triggering item 4 fees even if only one member is at the event. The definition of “services provided” includes planning, and a support service is a service. The exemption only applies to services “where duties are carried out by 3 or more members”. Support services are separate; could an event be billed for a support vehicle’s presence without any member? The text suggests the exemption covers the entire category of services for the event, not each sub item. This is ambiguous and could be litigated.

Litigation could also arise over the witness fee calculation. A litigant might argue that the salary calculation is wrong, or that travel time was overstated. There are no published NT decisions on these regulations, but general principles of debt recovery would apply.

Given the absence of reported case law, the regulations operate with a low litigation risk. The amounts involved are small enough that most payors would settle rather than fight. The Commissioner’s discretion for false alarm fees provides an extra layer to avoid litigation.

The 90 day reset for false alarms is easy to miss. Regulation 2A(2) says that if a period of 90 days passes during which the police have not attended the premises in response to a false alarm, all previous occasions are disregarded. This means that if an owner has had three false alarms in 28 days (triggering the fee threshold), and then has no further false alarms for 89 days, then on day 90 they have a false alarm, the count resets? No - the wording is “a period of 90 days passes during which the police have not attended them in response to a false alarm”. So if the attendances stop for 90 full days, the count resets. But if on day 91 there is a false alarm, it is a fresh first occasion. However, if there are three false alarms over 30 days, and then another on day 80 (less than 90 days since the last), then the count continues. The landowner must wait 90 consecutive days without any false alarm attendance to reset. This is a strict rule with no grace period.

The “sporting or entertainment event” definition includes events that make a profit even if organisers do not expect profit. The definition is “organised or promoted for the purpose of making a profit”. If an event turns out to be unprofitable, but was promoted with profit intention, it is still covered. Conversely, if an event is not profit motivated but still generates a surplus used for community benefit, it may escape if the Commissioner is satisfied. However, the exemption requires Commissioner satisfaction; there is no automatic exemption for charities. An organisation must apply and receive a determination. If they proceed without this, they risk being billed later.

Support service definition excludes vehicles used only for transport, but the exclusion is narrow. A vehicle used to transport members to an event is not a support service. However, if that vehicle also carries equipment, is used as a communications base, or is kept on site for potential use, it may become a support service. The nuance will depend on the actual use. Event organisers should clarify with police in advance whether a vehicle parked nearby will be charged at 25 revenue units per half hour.

Interview fee applies even for informal information gathering. Item 5 of the Schedule: “Interviewing a member for the purpose of acquiring information in relation to any matter” costs 50 revenue units per half hour per member interviewed. This means that if a journalist, lawyer, or private investigator wants to speak with a police officer about a case, they may be charged from the start. There is no de minimis exception. Even a five minute phone call could be charged at the half hour minimum (since the fee is “for each half hour or part thereof”). This is a potent deterrent to many informal enquiries.

Fingerprint fee does not include a name check. Item 14: “Taking fingerprints of a person on the request of the person” costs 48 revenue units per set. If the person also wants a national police certificate with fingerprint check (item 12(b)), that is an additional 168 revenue units. They are separate services.

Travelling time for events can be billed for both outbound and return. The definition of “travelling time” includes both travel to the area and return after services are no longer required. This is reasonable but can double the time charged if the event is far away. For example, a police helicopter based in Darwin responding to a regional event may charge 700 revenue units per half hour for the aircraft, plus travel time to and from the event, even if the helicopter is on site for only one hour. The total could be thousands of dollars.

No fee for events with 2 or fewer members, but planning time counts as a service. Regulation 3(2) exempts fees if no more than 2 members are present to carry out duties. However, “services provided” includes planning and administration. If three members plan the event but only two attend, is the planning service still exempt? The exemption applies “except where more than 2 members are present at the event to carry out duties”. It does not mention planning. Arguably, planning is a service provided before the event, and if more than two members are involved in planning, the exemption may not apply. The text is ambiguous. Organisers should confirm with police whether planning time for two attendees triggers a fee.

Revenue unit value not in these regulations. As noted, the actual dollar fees are unknown without cross referencing the current revenue unit value. A compliance officer or lawyer must look up the value elsewhere. This is a common gotcha: assuming the fee in the Schedule is the dollar amount.

For civil litigants calling a police witness. First, contact the police officer’s unit to arrange attendance and confirm the fee calculation. Request a breakdown of salary (based on fortnightly gross), travel distance, and any meal or accommodation costs. Pay the estimated amount before the hearing, or negotiate payment at the hearing. Do not pay overtime (it is prohibited). Keep receipts and a written record of the breakdown to potentially recover the cost from the other party if costs are ordered. If the hearing is cancelled, ask for a refund (though not guaranteed).

For occupiers/owners of premises with alarm systems. Keep a log of police attendances. If the police attend for a possible false alarm, ask the attending officer for their opinion and whether it counts. After three attendances in 28 days, be aware that any further attendance will incur a 200 revenue unit fee. If the alarm is malfunctioning, repair it promptly. To reset the counter, ensure no false alarm attendance occurs for 90 consecutive days. If a fee is billed, consider whether to apply to the Commissioner for waiver (no formal process; write to the Commissioner explaining the circumstances - e.g., a faulty sensor that has since been fixed). Do not ignore the fee; it is recoverable as a debt. If disputing, raise the issue in writing before paying.

For event organisers. Determine whether the event qualifies as a “sporting or entertainment event”. If the event is organised for profit (including breaking even but with profit intention), assume the fee applies unless the Commissioner has granted an exemption for charitable purposes. Apply for exemption early, providing evidence that all profit is applied to a charitable, benevolent, philanthropic or community beneficial purpose. Budget for police fees: request an estimate from the NT Police Event Planning unit. The estimate should include: number of members needed (if three or more, fees apply); support services (vehicles, aircraft, horses); travel time (to and from, including return). For small events, consider limiting police presence to two or fewer to avoid the fee entirely, but ensure that this does not compromise public safety. If an event only needs two police, confirm in writing with police that they will attend and that the fee exemption applies. Note that planning time may still be charged if more than two members are involved in planning.

For requesting reports, certificates or forensic services. Check the Schedule for the relevant item. Ascertain the current revenue unit value from the NT Government gazette or the Fees and Charges Act. Calculate the fee: for time based services, note the minimum billing unit is half an hour (or part thereof). For reports, the fee is a flat amount plus per page copying. For national police certificates, identify whether you qualify as a volunteer (e.g., for a volunteer organisation) to access the lower fee. For forensic services, request a written quote for the estimated hours and materials. Prepare to pay in advance or as invoiced.

For police members. Familiarise yourself with the fee schedule and the definitions. When attending a civil hearing, ensure the litigant is aware of the fee and do not accept overtime. For false alarms, record each attendance accurately, noting the date and whether the alarm was assessed as false under reg 2A(4). When providing event services, record time spent (including travel), support service usage (distinguishing transport only from active support), and ensure only two or fewer members are on duty if the event organiser expects the exemption. For interviews, charge from the start of the interview, not from when the request was made. For all services, provide an invoice that references the specific regulation and Schedule item.

General record keeping. Keep copies of all requests, invoices and payments. The regulations do not require a particular form, but good practice is to document the basis for any fee charged. This protects both the police and the payor in case of dispute.

Monitoring amendments. The Schedule is frequently amended. Subscribe to the NT Legislation Register or check periodically for new subordinate legislation. The most recent amendment as at the current version is 31 July 2024. Any subsequent amendments may alter fees or add new services.