Alice Springs makes major call on youth curfew amid crime crisis

Alice Springs has made a call on its controversial youth curfew amid an ongoing crime crisis.

Alice Springs’ youth curfew has been extended by six days as the troubled remote town grapples with a devastating crime crisis.

The call to extend the two-week curfew, which was due to end at 6am on Wednesday, came after a meeting of the Territory Emergency Management Council (TEMC) this week.

On Tuesday, the Northern Territory government confirmed that a curfew for people under 18 would be extended two weeks after an “emergency situation” was declared in the CBD.

The declaration was made on March 27 after a violent riot caused significant damage to a pub in broad daylight the day prior.

Alice Springs’ youth crime crisis hasbeen at ‘crisis level’ for over a year. Picture: JPL/Media Mode/news.com.au

Alice Springs-based independent Robyn Lambley, who represents the division of Araluen in the Territory’s Legislative Assembly, welcomed the extension.

“It’s good news, but it doesn’t provide us with a lot of confidence and stability going forward,” Ms Lambley said in response to the news.

Sky News’ Northern Australia correspondent Matt Cunningham, citing local sources, reports the decision was made to bring the end of the curfew in line with the end of Northern Territory school holidays.

The declaration means anyone under the age of 18 is banned from the entire CBD from 6pm to 6am without a valid reason.

Police said no arrests were made on the curfew’s first night until at least 6am on April 16.

Northern Territory Government declared an emergency situation for the area described as the ‘High-Risk Area - Alice Springs Precinct.’

A spate of incidents on March 26, including significant damage amounting to over $30,000 at Todd Tavern, largely prompted authorities to take proactive measures to address the escalating situation.

Under this curfew, anyone under 18 years old is prohibited from loitering in the designated “high risk area” area during these hours unless they have a valid reason, such as employment or supervised activities.

Additionally, more than 50 additional officers were deployed to the town, including Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors tasked with overseeing all bottle shops in the town during the curfew.