Mr GUNNER - 2010-02-18
The government has a range of strategies to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. Can you please update the House on the recent operation in the Alice Springs CBD area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this goes in large part to protecting children in our community. Last week, the Minister for Central Australia, the Police Commissioner and I announced new measures to combat truancy and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs
I would like to report on a multi-agency operation run last weekend to address youth crime and antisocial behaviour in the CBD. The agencies involved were the Northern Territory Police, NT Families and Children’s Youth Services, the Family Support Centre, Department of Justice, including licensing inspectors, the Alice Springs Town Council rangers, Tangentyere youth and night patrols, and the Congress outreach workers. There was a combination of foot and mobile patrols used over two nights.
As the result of the operation, a total of 195 people were spoken to; 105 were moved on; 23 litres of alcohol destroyed; 12 people were taken into protective custody; 65 youths were conveyed home utilising youth patrol and Congress - so this goes to the issue of protecting children; six information reports were submitted; and, one arrest was made for drink-driving.
There has been much debate about very young children on the streets of Alice Springs at night. Significantly, no young children between the ages of zero to 10 were located wandering the streets unsupervised by an adult. Youths located and spoken to ranged from the ages of 13 to 22, and 65 of those were conveyed home, as I have said.
The operation was a success. The government will continue to develop new response arrangements between the police, Children and Families, and schools in Central Australia. All agencies are very keen to participate in this. We will continue to strengthen our response in Alice Springs to the issues of children on the street at night. I remind all honourable members that, under the Care and Protection of Children Act, if you see very young children on the street late at night, it is mandatory to report, not just create a newspaper headline.
Mr Giles: What a disgraceful slur that was.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Giles: Check your police records and listen to who is talking.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr Giles: Listen to the member for Macdonnell talking to police. Disgraceful!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, you are on a warning!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this goes in large part to protecting children in our community. Last week, the Minister for Central Australia, the Police Commissioner and I announced new measures to combat truancy and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs
I would like to report on a multi-agency operation run last weekend to address youth crime and antisocial behaviour in the CBD. The agencies involved were the Northern Territory Police, NT Families and Children’s Youth Services, the Family Support Centre, Department of Justice, including licensing inspectors, the Alice Springs Town Council rangers, Tangentyere youth and night patrols, and the Congress outreach workers. There was a combination of foot and mobile patrols used over two nights.
As the result of the operation, a total of 195 people were spoken to; 105 were moved on; 23 litres of alcohol destroyed; 12 people were taken into protective custody; 65 youths were conveyed home utilising youth patrol and Congress - so this goes to the issue of protecting children; six information reports were submitted; and, one arrest was made for drink-driving.
There has been much debate about very young children on the streets of Alice Springs at night. Significantly, no young children between the ages of zero to 10 were located wandering the streets unsupervised by an adult. Youths located and spoken to ranged from the ages of 13 to 22, and 65 of those were conveyed home, as I have said.
The operation was a success. The government will continue to develop new response arrangements between the police, Children and Families, and schools in Central Australia. All agencies are very keen to participate in this. We will continue to strengthen our response in Alice Springs to the issues of children on the street at night. I remind all honourable members that, under the Care and Protection of Children Act, if you see very young children on the street late at night, it is mandatory to report, not just create a newspaper headline.
Mr Giles: What a disgraceful slur that was.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Giles: Check your police records and listen to who is talking.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr Giles: Listen to the member for Macdonnell talking to police. Disgraceful!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, you are on a warning!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016