How to Get a Police Report in the NT

To report a crime or crash in the Northern Territory, call 000 in an emergency, call 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance, or file a non emergency report online at pfes.nt.gov.au/reportonline; to obtain a copy of an existing report, NT Police runs a three tier system that ranges from free in person collection to a formal Information Act application, and a motor vehicle crash report copy is a separate request costing 50 revenue units.

This page covers reporting to NT Police and obtaining copies of reports. For an overview of the process in every Australian state and territory, see police reports in Australia.

How to Report a Crime or Crash in the NT

Call 000 for any emergency, including a crash involving injury. For a non emergency matter, Police, Fire and Emergency Services NT (PFES NT) provides an online reporting form at pfes.nt.gov.au/reportonline, which lets a member of the public lodge a report without attending a station in person. Use this route for matters that do not require an urgent police response, such as theft, lost property, property damage or an abandoned vehicle. The form goes to the NT Police communications team, and the actioning officer then contacts you with your police reference number. For non-urgent police assistance, you can also call 131 444.

Getting a Copy of Your NT Police Report

NT Police uses a three tier system for copy requests, confirmed against the PFES NT access to information page. First, a complainant seeking their own report with no third party information in it can collect a copy in person at a local station. Second, a General Request for Information (RFI) is an informal, no fee route for a complainant seeking their own information. Third, anything larger, more sensitive, or involving information about someone other than the requester goes through a formal Information Act application, which is the Territory's freedom of information equivalent. An Information Act application is free if it seeks only your own personal information. For other government information there is a $30 application fee plus processing fees, which PFES may waive or reduce on request, for example on hardship grounds.

A motor vehicle crash report copy is a separate request type, not an Information Act application. It attracts a fee under the Police Administration (Fees) Regulations of 50 revenue units per report, and you lodge the application form at a police station or send it to the PFES Information Access Team. At the FY2026 to 27 revenue unit value of $1.49, that works out to $74.50, which NT rounds down to $74 under its own published rounding rule. PFES states that these revenue-unit fees cannot be waived.

For a property insurance claim, your insurer or loss assessor can obtain the police report directly through a General Property Insurance Report, which also costs 50 revenue units and is available to insurance companies and loss assessors only.

Do not confuse revenue units with penalty units. Revenue units price administrative fees, including this crash report copy, and sit at $1.49 for FY2026 to 27. Penalty units price court imposed fines, including the unregistered vehicle offence covered on driving an unregistered vehicle in the NT, and sit at $194 for FY2026 to 27. The two systems index separately and are never interchangeable. For the Territory's broader freedom of information regime beyond policing, see freedom of information in the NT.

Your Duty to Report a Crash

Traffic Regulations 1999 (NT) regulation 19, headed Duties of driver after crash, applies whenever a crash causes injury or damage to a person or property. The driver must stop for long enough to make necessary inquiries and to render assistance, and must, as soon as practicable and not later than 24 hours after the crash, report it and give their name. That report goes to a police officer at the nearest practicable station if anyone was injured, or through a method the Police Commissioner has approved in any other case. The duty does not apply if police already took the driver's particulars at the scene. The general penalty under regulation 93 is up to 20 penalty units ($3,880 at $194 per unit in FY2026 to 27) or 6 months imprisonment.

Where a crash causes death or serious harm, section 174FA of the Criminal Code (NT) makes it a crime for the driver to fail to stop, give reasonable assistance, notify police as soon as reasonably practicable, or follow reasonable police directions. The maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment if someone dies and 7 years for serious harm.

False Reports to Police Are a Crime

Knowingly making a false report to NT Police is an offence under Summary Offences Act (NT) section 68A, False reports to police. The maximum penalty is $11,000 or 2 years imprisonment, and a court can also order the person to pay costs. This is a serious criminal matter, not a civil dispute, so a report should only ever describe what actually happened.

Victim Support After Reporting

Victims of Crime NT (VoCNT) runs a free, 24 hour support line at 1800 672 242 (Freecall) offering crisis support, information, advocacy, and court support, along with referrals. The Crime Victims Services Unit (CVSU) handles applications for financial assistance, and the Witness Assistance Service (WAS), part of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, supports witnesses through court. Counselling services including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Ruby Gaea, 1800RESPECT, and CatholicCare NT are also available. If you plan to apply to the CVSU for financial assistance, the NT Government says you should report the crime to police within a reasonable time and cooperate with investigations.

Police Report vs Police Check in the NT

A police report documents an incident you have experienced or witnessed, such as a crash or theft. It is a different document from a National Police Check, sometimes called a police check, which is a criminal history check most often needed for employment, licensing, or a visa application. If you need a criminal history check rather than a record of an incident, see police checks in the NT instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a copy of a crash report cost in the NT?

A motor vehicle crash report copy costs 50 revenue units under the Police Administration (Fees) Regulations, which is $74 at the FY2026 to 27 revenue unit value of $1.49. You apply on the crash report form at a police station or to the PFES Information Access Team.

What number do I call to report a crime in the Northern Territory?

Call 000 for any emergency. For non-urgent police assistance call 131 444, or file a non emergency report online through Police, Fire and Emergency Services NT at pfes.nt.gov.au/reportonline. An officer then contacts you with a police reference number.

How long do I have to report a crash to NT Police?

Traffic Regulations 1999 (NT) regulation 19 requires a driver in a crash causing injury or damage to report it as soon as practicable, and no later than 24 hours after the crash, unless police already recorded the driver's details at the scene. If the crash caused death or serious harm, Criminal Code (NT) section 174FA also requires the driver to stop, help and notify police as soon as reasonably practicable.

Is making a false report to police a crime in the NT?

Yes. Summary Offences Act (NT) section 68A makes a false report an offence with a maximum penalty of $11,000 or 2 years imprisonment, plus a possible costs order.

Is a police report the same as a police check in the NT?

No. A police report is a record of an incident you reported. A National Police Check is a separate criminal history check used for purposes like employment or licensing.