One year on from the commencement of Declan's Law, passed in response to the violent and senseless murder of 20-year-old Declan Laverty, a significant drop in crime is now being felt across the Northern Territory.
Under the Finocchiaro CLP Government, Declan's Law has resulted in more than 5,800 individuals being refused bail by police or the courts, an increase of 22%, while almost 20,000 people have been subject to wanding operations.
Chief Minister and Police Minister Lia Finocchiaro said Declan's Law has been a game changer for community safety in keeping more offenders off the streets.
"Territorians wanted the CLP to make the Territory a safer place and Declan's Law is helping deliver that.
"For too long under Labor, repeat offenders' rights were put above community safety, and Declan's death should never have happened.
"From day one, we were determined that Declan's death would not be in vain."
Declan's Law was one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the Finocchiaro CLP Government within weeks of coming to government, forming a central part of its plan to reduce crime, deliver consequences for offending, and putting the rights of people to be safe above the rights of offenders.
In addition to bail reforms, Declan's Law also included better powers for police to prevent knife crime.
These changes simplified approval processes for the use of handheld knife scanners, expanded wanding powers in public places, including schools and public transport, and extended wanding authorisations from 12 hours to up to 72 hours.
Since the legislative changes came into effect, nearly 20,000 people have been scanned by NT Police, resulting in:
296 dangerous weapons seized36 people arrested3 notices to appear issued
Declan's mother, Samara Laverty, said while the pain of losing her son remains, there is comfort in the fact that his legacy lives on.
"Declan's life was viciously ripped from him and from us," Ms Laverty said.
"His legacy is about leaving the Northern Territory a safer place. We are beginning to see that happen.
"Bridget and I are forever grateful that Declan's life has a lasting legacy, one that may protect others in the future."
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Declan's Law has delivered a decisive shift in the way bail is applied in the Northern Territory.
"In the year prior to our bail reforms, 4775 people were refused bail," Ms Boothby said.
"In the 12 months since Declan's Law came into effect, 5831 people have been refused bail. The action we have taken is working to reduce crime and community safety will remain our number one priority in 2026.
"We are proud to have delivered an 8.6% drop in the number of victims between January and October 2025, compared to the same period the year before. That represents more than 1,800 less victims of crime under a Finocchiaro CLP Government."
The Finocchiaro CLP Government recognises there is still much more work to do to reduce crime including tackling the root causes of crime, and in 2026 reducing crime remains our number one priority.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the Government would stay the course in reducing crime for all Territorians.
