NT police officer back on active duty after charge related to partner’s death dropped

The Northern Territory police force confirmed the officer had been suspended with pay for more than four years before returning to work. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

A Northern Territory police officer who faced criminal charges after an inquest found his partner died amid a “history of family violence” has returned to work after the case against him was dropped.

A coroner found the officer’s partner, who was herself a former police officer in her late 30s, died in 2020 after 17 complaints were made to NT police about violence and “domestic disturbances” in the five years before her death.