Violence and unrest in Mimili escalates as locals plead for more police after arson attacks

An APY Lands community is calling on the authorities for help as violence and unrest escalate.

Residents of a remote Indigenous community in the APY Lands are living in fear for their lives after houses and cars were set on fire during an escalation of ongoing unrest and violence.

Mimili locals say they fear someone could be killed because of the violence which this week escalated from street brawls to properties being torched.

The community has been in the grips of ongoing violence for the best part of a year, with the Mimili Anangu School forced to close and evacuate staff twice in six months.

“It’s still not safe,” APY executive board member and Mimili resident Julieanne Campbell said.

Ms Campbell said she no longer left her children unsupervised out of fear they would be injured in a violent incident.

“They’re not safe,” she said.

This week, tensions escalated, with two local men charged over what police allege were deliberately lit fires in the community.

Mimili residents are calling for a greater police presence in the APY Lands.

On June 8, a car was torched in the yard of a Mimili home before the blaze spread to a second vehicle and the nearby house.

A 21-year-old Mimili man suffered significant burns to his legs in the fire, which he was later arrested over.

He was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment and charged with arson before facing the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Monday.

On Thursday night, a Mimili family escaped injury after their home was allegedly set alight at about 6pm.

A 20-year-old Mimili man was arrested and charged with arson and endangering life.

He appeared in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Friday.

Fire cause investigators on Saturday flew to the APY Lands from Adelaide to examine the scene.

Police do not believe the two arsons are linked.

While she appreciates the efforts of responding officers, Ms Campbell pleaded for more police resources in the APY Lands to address the violence and the return of officers permanently based on the Lands before the implementation of the controversial APY Staffing Model.

In February, it was revealed the APY Lands Policing Section was operating at just over two thirds of its capacity.

Under the staffing model, officers fly in and out of the Lands working on an eight day shift.

But a lack of familiar faces means locals are often dealing with a different officer during an incident.

Police resources are stretched thin across the APY Lands. Picture: Simon Cross

“Every two weeks we get new police and they’re asking ‘What’s the problem?’,” Ms Campbell said.

“We can’t keep telling the same stories.

“We need someone to be based here and know what’s going on.”

SA Police is actively exploring extra incentives to attract more police to the Lands, which is a notoriously challenging work environment for police and other services.

“Some of the challenges to attracting people are often individually based decisions and are not unique to SAPOL,” a spokesman said.

“SAPOL are committed to the region, which is supported by the construction of the Umuwa Multi-agency Facility that was officially opened last year, and three new police posts at Fregon, Pipalyatjara and Indulkana due to be completed later this year.”