Well, police officers in Tennant Creek are amongst the first in the Northern Territory to become the boys and girls in blue. That’s NTPD blue.

Back in 2009 the top brass suggested a more style-savvy uniform in a brighter colour, along the lines of the New York Police Department (NYPD), would make the men and women in khaki stand out.

At that time the Police Association wanted the khaki to remain. But in March last year, after consultations and trials, the rank and file of the Northern Territory force voted to change.

And so a move was made to ditch 100 years of tradition in favour of new uniforms, including replacing the khaki threads that have been in use for more than 50 years.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Jamie Chalker said the the new uniforms, which were officially launched last week in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and the Southern Region Command, are made of more Territory-friendly material and are designed to be more practical for officers in the field.

Mr Walker, also Chair of the Police Uniform Committee, said he hoped the public will soon accept the change.

“Well, look, I am Territory born and bred and I have had a lot of people that I have grown up with come and challenge me about the fact that we are changing colour,” he said.

“When I have sat down with them and explained the reasons behind it, and shown them the images of what we are changing to, they very quickly understand it is not the colour of our uniform that makes this police force, it is the people.”

He said Territory police had been calling for a change in uniforms for years.

“I am confident this new uniform is comfortable, professional, fit for purpose and practical for all contemporary policing needs in the Territory,” he said.

“Historically we actually commenced in a dark navy blue uniform so perhaps we have gone full circle.”

Mr Chalker added that the new blue uniforms made officers clearly recognisable as police.

“The days of being mistaken for prison guards, wildlife rangers and Defence personnel are hopefully over, or at least for the Southern Region until the uniforms are rolled out completely across the jurisdiction.

“With ‘Police’ now clearly displayed across the back of the shirts, no one can claim that, from the back, they did not know we were police.”

The new blue uniforms will be rolled out across the Top End by August.