Pollies react to Alice Springs 18th place in crime ranking as another business smashed overnight

Alice Springs’ dire ranking in a worldwide crime counter has politicians proposing their fixes, as a business owner in town who was ram raided last night – says it’s time for them to act.

Workers rebuilding the damage to Andrew Paterson Smash Repairs in Alice Springs, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A businessman who operates in the 18th most crime-ridden city in the world has told the major parties to “stop mucking around”, as politicians and business leaders react to the town’s dire ranking.

Andrew Paterson, owner of Andrew Paterson Smash Repairs in Alice Springs, said he woke this morning to a call from his security company telling him there was a “Land Rover Discovery in the office”.

“The car was sticking out of the big hole in the wall,” he said.

A resident of Alice Springs since 1981, he said his business hadn’t been broken into for “at least 10 years”.

“Everything’s locked up – we don’t have any keys on the premises,” he said.

Nothing was stolen, according to Mr Paterson, who said the only thing the alleged thieves did was leave him a $50,000 damage bill.

The building’s airconditioner and computers were badly damaged, with walls and doors needing to be replaced, he said.

With an election looming, Mr Paterson wanted whoever wins to start making some “decisions”.

“Someone has to make a decision, not only here, but in Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Darwin,” he said.

“If we have to build another prison, build another prison – stop mucking around.

“I’ve lived here for 40 odd years. Yes, we’ve got problems. But you know, we had those problems 20 years ago too; the governments haven’t done anything about it.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Police Minister Brent Potter. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler said she was “fully focused” on delivering her “common sense” plan to lower crime across the Territory.

“The crime rate in Alice Springs is too high and it’s unacceptable that violent crimes are being committed against seniors in the Territory,” she said.

“My plan to lower crime includes investing an extra $570 million into the Northern Territory Police Force over five years. This will deliver 200 extra sworn officers, more than 70 support staff, 25 additional emergency call takers and a $125 million dedicated police infrastructure program to build better facilities.”

But CLP Namatijira MLA Bill Yan said Territorians have had enough and deserve better.

Shadow Treasurer Bill Yan MLA. Photos: Gera Kazakov

“Crime in the Territory continues to be totally out of control and the Territory’s reputation continues to be destroyed,” he said.

“Now Alice Springs is up there with well-known dangerous cities in South Africa.

“A real estate agent had a buyer pull out of a purchase after hearing Alice Springs was ranked in the top 20 of the world’s most dangerous cities.”

In light of Alice Springs reaching the unwanted ranking, the CLP is now promising – if elected – a plethora of justice system reforms.

Mr Yan’s statement said the CLP would reverse Territory bail laws; make breach of bail conditions an offence; lower the age of criminal responsibility; give police greater powers with wanding to stop knife crime; and empower police to deal with problem drunks by giving greater powers under the two-kilometre rule.

The CLP said they would achieve all of this in the first week of parliament – if elected.

However, NT Greens candidate for Braitling Asta Hill questioned the reliability of Alice’s crime-ridden ranking by Numbeo.

“But what we can all agree on is that victims of crime deserve so much more than criminal justice policy which is more about winning votes than keeping the community safe,” she said.

“The major parties’ over-reliance on police and prisons ignores the simple fact even our police commissioner agrees on: we can’t arrest our way out of these issues.

“We urgently need policies that address the social drivers of crime.”

But Mr Paterson hoped whoever got in – Labor or Liberal – would make the right call.

“This situation where these kids can just do anything they like, doesn’t help anybody,” he said.

“It’s time the government – either government – turn around and say this is what we’re going to do and make the decision and do it, because nothing will get done otherwise.”

Originally published as Pollies react to Alice Springs 18th place in crime ranking as another business smashed overnight