Police ramp up ahead of Seabreeze Festival during Nightcliff crime wave

A series of crimes in Nightcliff have preceded the twentieth annual Seabreeze Festival with police promising a ‘heightened’ presence. Read the details.

A series of violent crimes have plagued the Nightcliff community in the past month, leading to concerns over public safety at the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival which begins on Friday.

On April 23, beloved Nightcliff shop owner Linford Feick was allegedly murdered in his store by 18-year-old Phillip Randel Maurice Parry.

In the same week a boy allegedly assaulted multiple women along the Nightcliff foreshore, the site of this weekend’s festival.

On Thursday, the day before the festival began, a woman was found unresponsive on the foreshore bike path following an assault with the alleged offenders still at large.

Store owner Linford Feick was allegedly murdered in his shop. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

In a separate incident earlier in the day, a 15-year-old boy allegedly held up traffic armed with a metal pole on the corner of Progress Drive and Boetdoemba St in Nightcliff — right next door to the Nightcliff Police Station.

Against this backdrop separate crimes, thousands of Territorians will flock to the Nightcliff foreshore for the twentieth annual Seabreeze Festival.

Police search for a murder weapon on Sandalwood Street in Nightcliff the day after the stabbing death of Nightcliff Friendly Grocer owner Linford Feick. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A CLP spokesman said the government remained “laser focused on community safety” and had taken measures to improve security at the festival.

“Territorians can expect to see a heightened police presence at the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival, as well as at a host of events happening as the Dry season kicks off,” he said.

“A mobile CCTV unit has also been placed at the Nightcliff foreshore and event organisers have security in place as well.

“We want Territorians to enjoy our wonderful lifestyle and feel safe to attend and support events.”

Organisers from Seabreeze Festival at the Nightcliff jetty. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Acting Assistant Commissioner for Territory community safety, James O’Brien, said Territorians would see “a heightened police presence” across all the events this week, including the AFL.

“Police are aware of the annual Seabreeze festival and other events such as the AFL game at TIO Stadium, the Darwin River Rodeo, the Italian Festival at the Waterfront, an Irish Association event on the Esplanade and the Mother’s Day Classic at the East Point Reserve occurring this weekend and attendees can expect to see a heightened police presence due to the expected influx of people into the area,” he said.

Seabreeze Festival was contacted for comment but failed to respond.

It is understood the festival has organised security for the event.

Originally published as Police ramp up ahead of Seabreeze Festival during Nightcliff crime wave