NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker reveals crime is decreasing as people leave Alice Springs

The Territory’s police boss says snap alcohol restrictions and a heightened police presence is leading to a “displacement” of people outside Alice Springs, but it might only be shifting the problem.

Domestic violence call-outs in Alice Springs appear to have plummeted following snap alcohol restrictions, the Territory’s top police boss has revealed.

But he has warned the issues have not simply disappeared.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker spoke to this publication in Alice Springs on Thursday, amid a heavy police presence in the town and visits by the Labor caucus and federal politicians.

“Three weeks ago on the Monday to Tuesday 24-hour period we had in the vicinity of 37 family and domestic violence-related matters,” he said.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has been in Alice Springs this week ahead of the return of blanket alcohol bans. Picture: Che Chorley

“For that same reporting period on this (week) just gone, that reduced to five.

“So I think you can see how much of an impact that has had on police resourcing.”

Mr Chalker said the reduced number of domestic violence matters, which typically take police between three and four hours to respond to, have pushed officers back out onto the street.

But they have found they are often the only frontline responders roaming the Central Australian town at all hours.

“My team certainly do provide a sense of frustration to me on a fairly regular basis that the service delivery model out there to support them when they need it, outside of Monday to Friday eight to four, is pretty limited,” Mr Chalker said.

A majority of business in Alice Springs’ Todd Mall are boarded up and closed amid an increase in alcohol-fuelled crime and violence. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“There is a lot of money that goes into entities that are meant to be supporting this service delivery model that occurs 24-seven.”

Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney, along with Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour were in Alice Springs on Friday to deal with some of those issues.

The trio is set to meet with a range of service providers as the federal government rolls out its $250m commitment to Central Australia.

However, Mr Chalker said people had fled Alice Springs in the wake of the new grog restrictions and extra police on the ground.

“We have certainly been cognisant of the fact, because it’s a regular occurrence with enhanced police presence, that displacement occurs,” he said.

“We know that there’s been people who’ve headed north, all the way up through Katherine to Darwin as well.

“But equally we’re aware that people have headed to Mount Isa across the border in Queensland.

“Also we know that a lot of the South Australian residents that were here over the summer period have also started heading back down into SA and there’s any number of unfortunately broken down motor vehicles on the south Stuart Highway, that will attest to (that) fact.”

Katherine Town Council Mayor Elisabeth Clark said she had noticed an increase in people sleeping rough in Katherine. Picture: Supplied

Katherine Town Council mayor Elisabeth Clark has told this publication she has seen an influx of people in Katherine.

“I have been saying over and over again we need to have the same restrictions across the board,” she said.

“You get crime displacement as people just move to the next area.

“I’m absolutely worried about it … we have got more people sleeping rough and it’s led to a huge drain on resources for our service providers.

“I recently asked the Territory’s Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, when she was in Canberra, to make sure that Katherine does not miss out on anything.

“All of us in the Territory are suffering.”

Darwin mayor Kon Vatskalis has also called for similar alcohol restrictions in the Top End to those currently in Alice Springs.

Boarded up shops and businesses in Todd Mall, Alice Springs. February 2023. Picture: Annabel Bowles

It is an idea Mr Chalker is open to.

“It is fair to say that there is disparity as it relates to alcohol supply and the restrictions in place across the Territory,” he said.

“We do support the concept of local-based solutions to resolve the issues that confront the community.

“But again, I would urge that people do it from an evidence-based point of view … as opposed to just having knee jerk reactions.”

When asked if Alice Springs was at a crossroads, Mr Chalker said “the opportunity is now very clear and present”.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said Alice Springs had continued to have extra police on the ground since Operation Drina’s launch in November, but would not say if that currently amounted to more or less than 40 officers. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Listen to the subject matter experts, take considered advice and work together,” he said.

“A true bipartisan approach is the only way that I think we’re ultimately going to realise the change that we need.

“I think there’s lots of goodwill. It’s just a shame that we also had to see Alice Springs become so front and centre to the challenges that were before us before we saw through tangible investment coming forward.

“We continue to advocate for everyone to start focusing on what the root causes are here because as I say, these are social issues that are deeply rooted and inherent.

“Law enforcement alone won’t be the pathway to resolve them.”

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Originally published as NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker reveals crime is decreasing as people leave Alice Springs