After years of criticism over racism within the force, the Northern Territory Police have launched their first-ever anti-racism strategy.

The strategy, led by the NT Police's Cultural Reform Command director, Arrernte woman Leanne Liddle, follows widespread revelations of racism that surfaced during the inquest into the 2019 death of 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man Kumanjayi Walker.

Unveiled in Alice Springs/Mparntwe on Thursday, the first stage of the anti-racism strategy is "not a witch hunt," newly-appointed NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said, but rather "a pathway forward".

"It's about building a police force that truly reflects the Territory that we serve, where every officer and every Territorian is treated with fairness and respect," he said.

Ms Liddle, a former police officer tasked with the task of leading internal reform, acknowledged the issue was "confronting," but said it was one that had to be addressed directly.

"It is about accepting that racism has informed the structures that have shaped policing for generations," she said.

"This strategy is about confronting that reality, with honesty and courage. And the time for courageous conversations is now."

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Aboriginal Territorians have long shared their experiences of racism at the hands of the police. However, it hit the mainstream during the inquest into Kumanjayi Walker, when evidence of racist "games" and "awards" was shared with the court.

Walker was shot three times by then-police officer Zachary Rolfe during a failed arrest in Yuendumu in November 2019. Mr Rolfe was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in a Supreme Court trial in 2022.

During the inquest, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage found racist attitudes were entrenched within sections of the NT Police, stating: "Mr Rolfe was racist, and he worked in and benefited from an organisation with the hallmarks of institutional racism."

She added: "This was not a case of one bad apple... racist behaviour or language, although not uniform, was normalised within the Alice Springs police station during Mr Rolfe's time there."

On Thursday, Ms Liddle said acknowledging systemic racism did not mean every officer was racist, but that the institution itself needed structural change.

"Instead, it is about accepting that racism has informed the structures that have shaped policing for generations," she said.

"We know we can't fix what we don't face, and today is all about launching a road map that ensures that we are a professional, fairer and more accountable police force that serves and protects everyone."

The first stage of the plan, to be rolled out by 2027, will tackle racism "in all its forms." It focuses on four key areas: "serve and protect," "eliminate racism," "represent and reflect our Territory," and "be accountable".

It also sets a target to boost Aboriginal employment to 30 per cent - reflecting the NT's Indigenous population - and to strengthen protections for whistleblowers and victims of racism.

Commissioner Dole noted: "The Northern Territory Police Force has faced some hard truths about our past, but we must face them head-on."

In July, Ms Liddle confirmed internal disciplinary action was being taken in some cases involving racism, though she couldn't provide details.

"We believe that once we reform the culture of the police force...it will become far more attractive for Aboriginal people to be the change agents that we need within the Northern Territory Police Force to move forward," Ms Liddle said at the time.

Last year, former Police Commissioner Michael Murphy apologised to Aboriginal Territorians for "the past harms and the injustices caused by members of the Northern Territory Police".

"I know that I can't change or undo the past, but as police commissioner alongside our police officers, we can commit to not repeat the mistakes and injustices of the past," he said at Garma.

"Northern Territory Police need to be accountable for the past treatment of Aboriginal people."

The NT Government has staunchly defended the police against accusations of racism, often turning criticism of any perceived behavioural issue into an individual attack. They have yet to release their response to the findings in the Walker inquest.

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) welcomed the strategy, calling it an important step toward rebuilding trust between police and Aboriginal communities.

"There must be real powers, transparent processes and consequences to investigate and act on racism when it occurs," AMSANT Chair Rob McPhee said.

"Without that, this will become yet another wasted opportunity for critical reform-and that would be unacceptable."

Mr McPhee said acknowledgment was only the beginning.

"Aboriginal Territorians deserve policing that protects them and treats them with dignity, respect and equality," he said.

He added AMSANT had hoped for greater Aboriginal oversight of the strategy's implementation and for an independent body to investigate complaints, but said "this is a good first step."