The Northern Territory police force is set to be bolstered by an additional 200 officers as it battles youth crime in the region.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler made the announcement on Wednesday and said the boost was a direct effort to combat crime.

“Reducing crime is my top priority and we will work tirelessly to improve community safety right across the Territory,” she said.

“Investing more in the Northern Territory Police Force so they can have the right amount of officers available to combat crime each day is a key plank of my common sense plan to lower crime.”

Lawler said $200 million would help cover the expansion after the force identified it would need the funds.

A recruitment drive to attract new officers from across the country will take place after the Territory’s budget is handed down in May.

The NT has a current officer target of 1642 which will rise to 1842 over four years.

Police Minister Brent Potter said the extra officers were needed to keep people across the region safe.

“We back our hardworking police and that’s why we are going to make sure more officers than ever are out patrolling our streets,” he said.

The announcement of more officers comes after a nightly youth curfew in Alice Springs was triggered by upheaval in March as tensions escalated following the death of a teenager.

– AAP