‘We’re living like s**t’: Spanian exposes Alice Springs still in chaos a year on from national crisis

A vlogger who visits the world’s most dangerous towns has been astounded by what he saw in Australia.

One of Australia’s most street-hardened online personalities has declared he has “never been anywhere like this” after visiting Alice Springs, with the city still firmly in the grips of crisis.

Anthony Lees, better known as Spanian, is no stranger to violence and anti-social behaviour, having spent 13 years, over a third of his life, in prisons for drug dealing, assault and robbery.

Anthony Lees, known as Spanian, declares Alice Springs as worse than any other place he has experienced despite his extensive background in violence and anti-social behaviour. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

The 36-year-old reformed criminal turned hugely popular influencer now travels the world with his Into the Hood YouTube series, which aims to shine a light on underbellies worldwide.

But Eastern European slums and notorious Australian suburban hotbeds of crime don’t come close to Alice Springs, Spanian says.

Hour-long vlog shows streets humming with violence

Spanian’s latest hour-long vlog came to a crescendo in the early hours of a recent Sunday morning as pub and clubgoers trickled out of bars onto the regional city’s streets. Countless children were already roaming the area.

Spanian’s ‘Into the Hood’ series aims to shed light on underbellies worldwide, and his recent vlog highlights the violence and crime in Alice Springs. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

Footage from the vlog captures numerous instances of violence on the streets, including brawls, assaults, and knife fights. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

Local residents express dissatisfaction with the situation, describing their living conditions as dire. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

Footage from the streets after dark showed locals brawling on numerous occasions, another stomped on a woman’s head on the sidewalk, and two men went at it with blades in the middle of a road.

At one point, a woman yelled: “I think you need security”.

Another local indigenous man told Spanian: “We’re living like s**t.”

In Spanian’s words: “This is worse than Sydney, believe me.”

“There were punch-ons non-stop … this is just normal?” he asked locals.

“One hundred per cent,” they responded.

Spanian assesses government measures

Flanked by two locals, Alice Springs hip-hop artist Stumps and local Indigenous man Harley, Spanian spent the daylight hours touring the regional centre.

Spanian and his local guides assessed the immense level of surveillance around town, including fixed and mobile live CCTV stations, the “rundown” town camps, and the local booze restrictions.

Spanian recently toured Alice Springs with two locals, hip hop artist, Stumps, and Indigenous man, Harley. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

Spanian’s visit also coincided with an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, who was shot dead by former NT police officer Zachary Rolfe.

“There’s uproar and tension in town because of that,” Stumps said.

Stumps said little had changed since the town dominated national headlines in early 2023, despite pledges of action from national and territory leaders.

In Alice Springs, every bottle store is attended by police officers after measures introduced in 2023.

Spanian and his local guides assess the extensive surveillance, including CCTV stations and liquor restrictions, around Alice Springs. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

Harley told Spanian he was barred from buying alcohol because of the fact he lived at a town camp – an Aboriginal community within the city.

“They say you’re from here... you can’t drink... that’s mental,” Spanian said.

“That’s not if you’re a criminal, not if you’ve done drunk violence, not domestic violence, that is just based on where your family is from.”

The video showed three officers attending one bottle shop in a mall and two more at a separate drive-through.

Local Indigenous people featured in the blog spoke of racial profiling in local pubs, clubs and bottleshops.

Racial profiling in local establishments and the targeting of Indigenous town camps by CCTV installations are highlighted as ongoing issues. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

At one point in the vlog, the trio encountered a mobile police CCTV camera, with Stumps describing what it has been used for.

“You run up to them, and if you’re in trouble, getting chased bashed, this or that, or having a heart attack,” Stumps told Spanian.

“They hear you, and they can send emergency services.”

Some of the town’s CCTV installations allow live two-way communication.

Harley said they often targeted town camps.

According to NT Police, officers monitor these cameras around the clock from the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services control room in Darwin’s Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre.

Spanian’s visit coincides with an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, adding to the tension in the town. Picture: Spanian/ YouTube

A year on and what’s new?

Spanian’s video came almost exactly a year after the government introduced a suite of measures aimed at curbing the city’s crisis-level anti-social behaviour issues.

In February 2023, alcohol bans were reinstated in many communities. Bottle shop trading hours were reduced in Alice Springs, and the federal government announced a $250 million funding package to address Indigenous disadvantage throughout Central Australia.

The federal government said it had allocated over $186 million to various projects and organisations, including those for infrastructure and youth services.

After the changes, 2024 data from the NT government reported by the ABC showed some signs of improvement in Alice Springs, while other indicators remained the same or worsened even further.