Police officers in Peppimenarti allegedly had rocks thrown at them after seizing alcohol, NT Police said, while the NT Police Association president Nathan Finn has said officers were being assaulted every day, including with rocks and iron bars.

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said in a statement that about 7am Thursday Peppimenarti police officers went to a house in an alcohol restricted area where six people were drinking.

She said after police seized six bottles of spirits the residents allegedly threatened the officers, and threw rocks at the police vehicle as the officers retreated, and the group later threw rocks at the police compound and at the officers inside.

One alleged offender has been arrested with further arrests expected, NT Police said.

“The actions of these individuals are simply unacceptable,” Snr Sgt Gibson said.

“We take the safety of our officers very seriously and such reckless and dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated. We are committed to ensuring that our officers can perform their duties without fear of harm.

“If you behave in this way, expect to be prosecuted.”

In a statement issued before NT Police made the Peppimenarti rock throwing public, Mr Finn said the association was demanding stronger penalties for people who attack police, following a “disturbing surge in assaults” on police.

Mr Finn said police were being kicked, punched, spat at, belted with rocks and iron bars, threatened or stabbed with edged weapons on a daily basis.

He referenced an incident last Friday where a police officer in Alice Springs was run down and dragged under a vehicle, while trying to stop an alleged drunk from driving off, with the officer hospitalised and requiring surgery.

While Mr Finn also pointed to the attack on four off-duty officers in the town on Sunday, where they were ambushed, bashed and robbed while walking home, by a group of up to 20 youths.

Also three officers in Casuarina, Darwin city and Nhulunbuy were spat on in the one day, including by a youth who was in the company of a responsible adult, Mr Finn said.

“In the 2023 calendar year, there were 372 assault police offences recorded, according to data provided to the NTPA by NT Police. That is a 45 percent increase (171) compared with the previous year,” Mr Finn said.

“Vicious, cowardly attacks are occurring daily on our members, with many being attacked with deadly weapons, or life changing communicable diseases. Many more are not being reported.

“In the last five years, there were 1,161 police officers assaulted. That’s almost 70 percent of our workforce.

“If politicians were being attacked at the same rates, they’d strengthen the laws immediately. So why are violent attacks on police being tolerated by government?”

Mr Finn said the association wanted the government to implement tougher mandatory sentencing for all assaults on police.