http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2013/03/12/318469_ntnews.html
AN armed robbery victim waited more than four minutes for police to pick up the phone after calling 000.
Then he was put through to a call centre 1500km away.
And when he called a second time he was left on hold for 13 minutes.
Alice Springs Tennis Centre manager Matt Roberts said he was under threat from youths armed with knives, a metal pole, planks of wood and broken bottles who were threatening to kill him when he called police on February 22.
He said it took 46 minutes from the time he first called until police arrived.
He then called 000 and was on hold for four minutes and 46 seconds before talking to an officer in Darwin for more than seven minutes, who told him a unit would be sent out.
In a second 000 call he was on hold for 13 minutes and 12 seconds.
According to their own performance indicators, NT police are supposed to answer 000 calls within 10 seconds and dispatch officers within 10 minutes.
NT Police were unable to respond yesterday but Police Commander Southern Region Kate Vanderlaan told the Alice Springs News the delays were under investigation.
Mr Roberts said the situation was not good enough.
"I was in disbelief the first time but I thought it couldn't get any worse," he said.
"But it got three times worse.
"The system just doesn't work.
"If you are in a genuine emergency and surrounded by people and it takes 46 minutes to get someone there, then it isn't working."
Telstra has confirmed the time Mr Roberts waited on hold.
Mr Roberts said about six young men aged between about 13 and 16 had come armed after a youth event at the centre about 9.30am on Friday, February 22.
He said after getting the patrons to leave, 10 youths returned with what he believed were another 10 hiding nearby and threatened him while he was with four young teenagers.
He said they broke through a locked gate and later broke the door of his house, which is next door.
"They told me they were going to cut me and they were going to kill me and do all that stuff," he said.
"Basically they said they were going to kill us and come back with machetes.
"I had a phone in one hand and was explaining where Alice Springs is and (there's) a group of armed people on one side and the kids on the other side of me."
He said police arrived three minutes after the alleged attackers had gone.
Mr Roberts said once there the police handled the situation well and he understood it was a busy night.
Bloody boongs! got no shame of home invasion. The police have so much to do int NT due to those dirty ape boongs!
AN armed robbery victim waited more than four minutes for police to pick up the phone after calling 000.
Then he was put through to a call centre 1500km away.
And when he called a second time he was left on hold for 13 minutes.
Alice Springs Tennis Centre manager Matt Roberts said he was under threat from youths armed with knives, a metal pole, planks of wood and broken bottles who were threatening to kill him when he called police on February 22.
He said it took 46 minutes from the time he first called until police arrived.
He then called 000 and was on hold for four minutes and 46 seconds before talking to an officer in Darwin for more than seven minutes, who told him a unit would be sent out.
In a second 000 call he was on hold for 13 minutes and 12 seconds.
According to their own performance indicators, NT police are supposed to answer 000 calls within 10 seconds and dispatch officers within 10 minutes.
NT Police were unable to respond yesterday but Police Commander Southern Region Kate Vanderlaan told the Alice Springs News the delays were under investigation.
Mr Roberts said the situation was not good enough.
"I was in disbelief the first time but I thought it couldn't get any worse," he said.
"But it got three times worse.
"The system just doesn't work.
"If you are in a genuine emergency and surrounded by people and it takes 46 minutes to get someone there, then it isn't working."
Telstra has confirmed the time Mr Roberts waited on hold.
Mr Roberts said about six young men aged between about 13 and 16 had come armed after a youth event at the centre about 9.30am on Friday, February 22.
He said after getting the patrons to leave, 10 youths returned with what he believed were another 10 hiding nearby and threatened him while he was with four young teenagers.
He said they broke through a locked gate and later broke the door of his house, which is next door.
"They told me they were going to cut me and they were going to kill me and do all that stuff," he said.
"Basically they said they were going to kill us and come back with machetes.
"I had a phone in one hand and was explaining where Alice Springs is and (there's) a group of armed people on one side and the kids on the other side of me."
He said police arrived three minutes after the alleged attackers had gone.
Mr Roberts said once there the police handled the situation well and he understood it was a busy night.
Bloody boongs! got no shame of home invasion. The police have so much to do int NT due to those dirty ape boongs!
Gee! the weird stuff the Abos get into doesn't cease to amaze me.
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