Dob-in-a-drunk plan to tackle anti-social behaviour in Darwin and Palmerston

AN ONLINE phone app and a new website to encourage Top Enders to dob in anti-social drunks will form part of the Gunner Government’s new $9 million plan to clean up the streets of Darwin and Palmerston

Nelson Tinoco (in the van) and David Kurnoth from Larrakia Nation get ready for the new day patrols. Picture: Keri Megelus

AN ONLINE phone app and a new website to encourage Top Enders to dob in anti-social drunks will form part of the Gunner Government’s new $9 million plan to clean up the streets of Darwin and Palmerston.

Larrakia Nation day patrols will also play a more prevalent role in monitoring anti-social behaviour as one of a suite of measures in the five-point plan.

Sobering-up programs and short-term accommodation will also be created or extended over the next year.

READ MORE: DAY PATROLS RETURN TO TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

The Government will however borrow the $8.9 million as it has not been factored into the existing budget.

The plan focuses on the Darwin and Palmerston region only and is designed to support the Government’s alcohol policies.

Despite admitting Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek bore the brunt of anti-social behaviour, Chief Minister Michael Gunner did not announce policies to address issues in those towns. He said those regions would benefit from 75 police auxiliary liquor inspectors based at bottle shops.

“Unfortunately, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine probably receive the larger brunt of anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence over the years,” he said.

“This is a Darwin and Palmerston place-based policy.”

The plan includes developing an app and website to help people report issues in the region as well as promote the 131 444 police line. It will also help police determine where the anti-social hot spots are located.

The app is expected to be operational early next year.

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“We want to make sure it’s easier to report and that we have more resources available to respond to that report,” Mr Gunner said.

Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation will receive four more vehicles for the day patrol program.

The patrol will be extended from 5am-10am to 5am-4pm, linking up with the night patrol.

Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Robert Cooper said the extra vehicles and staff would mean they could help more people throughout the day.

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While the program primarily helps indigenous people, Mr Cooper said the day patrol would support anyone in need.

The Sobering Up Shelter at Berrimah will become a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week facility.

Mr Gunner said they would not enforce mandatory rehab.

“All the evidence shows you can’t force someone to rehabilitate …. There’s got to be a degree of wanting to rehabilitate,” he said.

The plan also includes three Better Pathways centres in Darwin City, northern suburbs and Palmerston and the creation of more short-term accommodation facilities.

Deputy Opposition Leader, Lia Finocchiaro said the Government had ignored the rest of the Territory in its announcement yesterday.

“Labor’s plan is recycled from 2010, it is two years too late and half of the measures will not be implemented until next year, which is not good enough,” she said.