‘It’s mainly about youth issues’: Coffee with a Cop drills home crime concerns

A dozen police officers had their eyes and ears open at Karama Shopping Plaza yesterday, on the clock to listen to the concerns of the community who see “humbugging, drinking and general misbehaviour” daily.

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UP to a dozen police officers had their eyes and ears open at Karama Shopping Plaza yesterday, on the clock to listen to the concerns of the community who see “humbugging, drinking and general misbehaviour” daily.

NT Police Superintendent Sean Parnell said the Coffee with a Cop session allowed people to interact with the force and offer insights into Karama’s recent crime wave.

Coffee with a Cop at the Karama Shopping Plaza. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

“We’ve had heaps, a pretty constant stream of people coming through and doing the shopping. “It’s mainly about youth issues, how we’re going to sort some of these kids roaming the streets at night,” he said.

“There’s some broad suggestions people have come to us with that we’ll pass on.”

“But others thought the police presence would be better felt addressing crime rather than showing face in public.

“It’s an absolute waste of time and money and resources. It’s not the coppers’ fault, they do what they’re told and they do a bloody good job,” one shopper who wanted to remain anonymous said.

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Originally published as ‘It’s mainly about youth issues’: Coffee with a Cop drills home crime concerns