Anti-Looting Duty: On Saturday 28 December 1974, Constable 1/c Bob Latter, along with three NT Detectives, went to Millner St in Darwin. There they found 3 cars packed with goods looted from destroyed homes and shops. The final haul of confiscated goods was huge and included, amongst other things …24 rolls toilet paper; 12pkts razor blades; 12 nappies; 10 striped tea towels; 10 tins of crab meat; 8 folding chairs; 8 pair nylon socks; 6 floor matts; 6 pairs of blue jeans; 5 bath towels; 5 mixing bowls; 4 teddy bears; 3 size 14 dresses; 3 lace table cloths; 3 pink brunch coats; 2pkts glazed fruit; 1 cake plate; 1 radio cassette; 1 purple bedspread; 1 Sharp calculator; 1 fishing net; 1 coffee set; 1 aluminium boat; 1 esky; 1 tool box and 1 pair long trousers. Several men were arrested for stealing these items. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated case of looting in days following Cyclone Tracy. Police officers assigned to anti-looting duty were kept continuously busy.
Before dawn on the morning of December, 27, 1974, a contingent of 12 Queensland police officers, drawn from Lowood, Ipswich and Gatton, departed Eagle Farm Airport, headed for Darwin. Their role was to assist the Northern Territory police in restoring order to the city in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, which had devastated the area on Christmas Day.
As the first interstate police officers to arrive they arranged with the local Bank Manager, to use the still reasonably intact, Reserve Bank building as Commonwealth and Interstate Police Headquarters. Accommodation for the 12 Officers was hastily arranged at the Travel Lodge Motel, though the building was unroofed, waterlogged and the windows broken, it was the only place available at the time.
Constable 1/c Bob Latter finds unusual things have been looted from destroyed homes. He is holding a small stuffed crocodile and a pair of stuffed crocodile feet found by the anti-looting party sent to Millner St on Saturday December 28,1974.
On the arrival of other interstate police contingents later that day, a strategic plan was drawn up, and interstate police operations commenced on 28 December. It was determined that their main functions would be search and rescue, anti-looting patrols and airport assembly control. With the second smallest number of interstate representatives, the Queensland police officers performed these tasks, as well as court and investigative duties, and RSPCA Patrol. They worked 12 hour shifts, in often uncomfortable and unhygienic conditions.
Constable 1/c Bob Latter lists the looted possessions found on Saturday, December 28,1974.
With growing tensions between the interstate Police contingents, Northern Territory Police, and at times, the local community, the task of restoring order in Darwin was a challenging one. Queensland’s officers were noted for their exemplary conduct throughout, and were in fact the only contingent against whom, no complaints were made. The Queensland contingent returned to Brisbane on January 3, 1975. While Commonwealth forces remained, all other interstate police had vacated Darwin by January 17, 1975.
The devastation of Milner Street after the ravages of Cyclone Tracy, December 28, 1974.
Letter from Mr W.J. McLaren, Commissioner of Police, Darwin, Northern Territory to Acting Commissioner Martens, January 21, 1975.
“Words of mine cannot fully express my gratitude or that of the members of the Police Force for your wonderful gesture in sending a contingent of your men to assist this Police Force perform its duties in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy. Some of the immediate work to be done was beyond the overtaxed resources of the Force. your contingent of Police assisted greatly, in conjunction with other Police Forces, in performing duty which otherwise would have taken some months for out members to complete. The members of your Police Force performed their duty in the highest traditions of Police Service and their conduct was exemplary. They were a credit to your Force. I would be grateful if you could express to these members my very sincere thanks for the excellent service rendered.”
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM THE VAULT – Help at Hand… Cyclone Tracy – The Queensland Police Contingent” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode… Continue reading