A 52-year-old man has been arrested after CCTV operators identified and intervened in a serious assault at Nightcliff overnight.
About 11.05pm CCTV operators in the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre observed a male assaulting a female in a public area.
Operators immediately activated the live audio alarm system, disrupting the incident and causing the offender to move away from the victim.
General Duties officers from Casuarina attended the scene soon afterwards where they located the 33-year-old female victim.
The victim disclosed she had also allegedly been sexually assaulted and she was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.
Police located and arrested the 52-year-old offender a short distance away and he remains in custody as investigations continue.
Territory Duty Superintendent Alex Noonan said the incident highlighted the critical role CCTV operators play in frontline policing.
"Our CCTV operators are not just watching screens - they are actively protecting the community in real time," A/Supt Noonan said.
"Their quick thinking in activating the audio alarm disrupted the assault and allowed officers to respond immediately. That intervention may have prevented further harm."
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote reference number P26045932.
