Under siege Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has announced a review into the force’s Professional Standards Command, as well as a review of unspecified policies, in the lead-up to the coronial inquiry into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, that will be investigating disciplinary procedures within the force.

Mr Chalker sent a message to all officers stating that part of his 10-year strategy was to “develop, guide and value members, and live by a culture of ethics and integrity, focused on commitment to do what is right”.

“This includes a culture focused on fairness, responsibility, accountability, early intervention, self-reflection, and better governance to improve our standards,” he wrote.

Sources said it was clear the review is being done to front-foot potential criticism by Coroner Elisabeth Armitage as part of the inquiry into the police’s response and handling of the Kumanjayi Walker shooting.

This week an email was sent to all NT Police Association members asking if officers have confidence in Mr Chalker.

The extraordinary step of surveying police members was made necessary after nine of 12 NT Police regions across the NT expressed no confidence in Mr Chalker to remain in the role for a variety of reasons, including his handling of Constable Zach Rolfe’s murder charge over Mr Walker’s death, overseeing the doubling of the attrition rate, and perceived double standards in the executive, specifically to do with discipline and promotions.

Mr Chalker said the external review into the Professional Standards would be led by Victoria Police Commander Mark Galliott, and would focus on, but not be limited to, the structure of the PSC, complaint and internal processes and investigations, policy and governance practices, and disciplinary framework.

“The intent of the review is to have matured, continuous improvement in the professional standards space and to have a fit for purpose framework that allows for efficient, effective, and timely outcomes for members,” he wrote.

In May, the Coroner released a comprehensive “issues list” including 54 questions the inquest into the death of Mr Walker will attempt to answer.

Among the issues was whether the disciplinary proceedings of the Northern Territory Police force were appropriate and adequate to ensure that remedial or other appropriate action is taken in a reasonable time frame.

And if not, how policies, procedures and/or legislation could be changed to improve this, and whether legislative or policy amendments are needed to better deter and appropriately provide for sanctions against police misconduct (disciplinary, criminal or civil wrongs) in the NT.

Constable Zach Rolfe was found not guilty of the murder of Mr Walker in March by a Supreme Court jury. Mr Walker was shot during a failed arrest in Yuendumu on November 19, 2019.

Buried at the very bottom of his internal message about the PSC review, Mr Chalker said there were reviews and updating of policy documents being carried out, but did not state what policies they were.

The inquest will also consider the circumstances around the use of force by police and whether amendments need to be made, as well as what policies and procedures apply to NT Police personnel carrying guns in communities and whether that should be changed, and whether NT Police officers are receiving adequate training, as well as what the actual plan was for the Immediate Response Team’s officers to arrest Mr Walker.

Mr Chalker said the PSC review had already started and Commander Galliott and his team would travel to Darwin in mid-August, to meet with the NT Police Association, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, legal aid agencies, the PSC, and un-named others in the police force.

He said there was also a review and legislative amendment to Part IV (Discipline) of the Police Administration Act 1978, being undertaken.

Legislation drafting instructions and policy formulation work is also being done for the introduction of drug and alcohol testing for officers, Mr Chalker revealed.

The inquest issues list included the question of what policies and procedures are applicable if a police officer is suspected of using a drugs that impact on conduct, and whether they are adequate.