A 28-year-old man is in hospital after what appears to be a stabbing, in a domestic violence incident, that police media reported as an “assault with an edged weapon”, indicating that the man “suffered serious injuries to his upper chest”.

It is unclear why they could not say a man was stabbed in the chest with a knife or other weapon.

Police and government crime marketing manager Sita Bacher issued a statement about the incident that occurred at 10:30pm on Wednesday night “at a location on Victoria Drive” in Palmerston.

It’s understood the man was allegedly stabbed by a woman who was known to him who fled the scene.

He was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with serious injuries.

“Detectives from the Domestic and Family Violence Unit are investigating and are urging anyone with information, particularly if you witnessed the assault, to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference 10430163,” Ms Bacher said in the statement.

“You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Ms Bacher, a marketing manager in the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet responsible for the “Territory masterbrand” was installed in the extraordinary and unadvertised new role of overseeing what crimes are reported to the public by an unknown person, usurping the NT Police media unit.

Less than two weeks after Ms Bacher’s role was made public, the police media manager was fired.

Independent MLAs have called the role “Orwellian” and said it was destroying trust between the public and the NT Police.