‘Significant harm, disturbances’: NT Police reveal reason for snap three-day curfew in Alice Springs

Authorities have ordered a snap curfew for an entire outback town following “significant harm and civil disturbances” in an Australian first.

The entire town of Alice Springs will be plunged into a snap three-day lockdown in what is believed to be an Australian-first, following a string of violent attacks that include the alleged assault of off-duty cops.

The curfew on the outback town will last from 10pm till 6am for three days and apply to adults and children,unlike the two-week curfew enforced only for those under 18 earlier this year.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said on Monday a spate of “significant harm and civil disturbances” over the past 72 hours had triggered the new curfew.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler backed the police commissioner’s action, declaring: “The offending and behaviour that we have seen over the last 96 hours will not be tolerated.”

“We want to stamp out this poor behaviour.”

Asked if there had ever been a decision like this made in Australia, Ms Lawler responded: “No, probably not.”

“This is why we brought in the curfew legislation... we have a complete process now where the police commissioner is responsible for that decision,” she explained.

Ms Lawler said it was not a “political” decision but one made for the safety of people in Alice Springs.

While the move is the first of its kind, covering an entire township with people of varied ages and nationalities in Australia, historical scholar Maxwell Brierty said similarly restrictive measures had been used on Indigenous Australians throughout the 19th century.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the snap three-day lockdown for Alice Springs was a decision that had no equivalent in Australia. The lockdown was sparked by an alleged spate of violence across the NT over the past few days. Picture: NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Dr Brierty, from the University of Queensland’s School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, said visceral reminders of said restrictions existed in Queensland in the form of 19th century “boundary streets” which prevented First Nations People from crossing after certain times.

One example includes Boundary St itself, in inner-city Brisbane.

“There are accounts of First Nations Peoples being chased out of town by police at that time,” Dr Brierty said.

These racial borders remained in place until new legislation was passed in 1897.

But the new laws had the punitive effect of controlling Indigenous Australians at any particular time and allowing for their forced removal.

Dr Brierty explained this meant they could be placed into reserve or missions as a way of dealing with any “resistance or defiance”.

“That legislation was spread largely across the country in various forms,” he explained.

Police have imposed another curfew on the town of Alice Springs. Picture: Instagram

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said a spate of ‘significant harm and civil disturbances’ over the past 72 hours had triggered the new curfew. Picture: ABC

In the Northern Territory, under laws introduced in May, the police commissioner has the power to declare 72-hour lockdowns to respond to “public disorder”.

At the time, NT Police Minister Brent Potter said the laws had been modelled on existing legislation in NSW brought in following the 2005 Cronulla riots.

The legislation in that state grants police sweeping powers during “large-scale public disorder”.

This includes the ability to impose emergency closures of licenced venues and liquor outlets, establish emergency alcohol-free zones and establish special “lockdown zones”, along with increased penalties for existing offences like assault.

Mr Murphy said on Monday “significant harm and civil disturbances” had occurred over the last three days.

One included an officer allegedly being run down by a vehicle, suffering a fracture to his leg and arm.

On Saturday, police were confronted by a “large-scale disturbance” involving up to 80 people.

Mr Murphy said officers were allegedly assaulted as they tried to disperse the crowd.

“That subsequently led to the (alleged) assault of four off-duty police who were walking home,” Mr Murphy said.

During their walk, the four off-duty police officers – three women and a man – were allegedly approached from behind by a group of about 20 male youths who proceeded to assault them.

One of the female off-duty officers was pulled to the ground and had her bag allegedly stolen.

Another woman was allegedly punched in the face and kicked before her mobile phone was taken.

The male off-duty officer was also punched and kicked.

The four off-duty officers returned to their accommodation and contacted police.

Two of the women were taken to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment of minor wounds.

The curfew will be enforced in the confines between Anzac Hill, Schwarz Crescent, down to the hospital, from the Stuart Highway across to Leichhardt and Stott Terrace. Picture: Supplied

Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information to come forward.

A 42-year-old woman was also allegedly stabbed on Sunday in the Alice Springs CBD. A man has been charged.

It’s the second time this year a curfew has been imposed on Alice Springs, following a 14-day lock down around Easter after 150 people allegedly rioted through the streets.

Mr Murphy said the new curfew would be enforced in the confines between Anzac Hill, Schwarz Crescent, down to the hospital, from the Stuart Highway across to Leichhardt and Stott Terrace.

“Anyone coming into the zone can be engaged by police and asked to leave,” he said.

“Alternatively, they can be asked to stay if there’s another disturbance and they need to be contained for their own safety.”

Failures to abide police directions could lead to fines or arrests, Mr Murphy said.

He said people could still enter the curfew area for certain reasons – some of which include employment, visiting family, caring for another person, going into a fast-food restaurant or “some lawful purpose”.

Another includes if people are fleeing domestic violence.