A police officer was allegedly kicked in the head while attempting to arrest a woman outside a Darwin bar after being called to a disturbance of angry drunks early Sunday morning, NT Police said.

Police were arresting a woman for disorderly conduct at around 3:45am outside the Mayberry nightclub on Edmonds St when officers were approached by a 19-year-old woman who allegedly kicked an officer in the head while a crowd of drunks hurled abuse at officers.

The assault is the tenth reported assault of a police officer in eight days, sparking the union representing police to call for the immediate reinstatement of the “City Safe” patrol group, which involved police walking the CBD entertainment precinct.

NTPA president Paul McCue said the patrol group had been disbanded to bolster the number of general duties patrols in the Darwin region, and that the latest attack on police “exposed the lack of police resources available in the CBD to protect the community”.

“City Safe needs to be reinstated to give the public the confidence to know they will be kept safe if a violent situation arises and the safety of our members will not be compromised,” he said.

The 19-year-old woman at Mayberry was later arrested and has been charged with hindering police and could face further charges for assaulting the officer. She will appear at Darwin Local Court on April 21.

Superintendent James O’Brien said the crowd of drunks also hurled abuse at the police during the arrest during the “disgraceful” incident, which will see police work to crack down on the “riotous behaviour” on Edmonds St and could see the establishment slapped with charges.

“Not only was the officer set upon, the large riotous crowd that had gathered started hurling abuse at the police. It is clear from the video footage of the incident that a large proportion of the crowd was drunk,” Supt O’Brien said.

“Police will be working closely with a number of government and non-government agencies in an effort to put a stop to the continued riotous behaviour being experienced in and around Edmunds Street.

“Police will be reviewing the incident very closely to determine whether any Liquor Act breaches have occurred.”

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the assault to contact them as the investigation continues.