180 arrests made as part of Operation Ludlow in Alice Springs as school holiday events prove a hit

Northern Territory Police have provided another Operation Ludlow update, revealing a staggering amount of booze has been destroyed, while the government also made its own surprise admission. Find out more.

Northern Territory Police southern commander James Gray-Spence out the front of Alice Springs police station. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Thousands of drinks have been poured out in Alice Springs ahead of the new year, police say, as the government says “we don’t really know” if school holiday programs are stopping kids from “making mischief”.

Speaking to media in Alice Springs on Tuesday, Northern Territory Police Southern Commander James Gray-Spence said 180 arrests have been made as part of Operation Ludlow so far.

The policing operation, which was launched in November – as opposed to its planned December start date – has also seen 49 drone deployments and “more than 1700 standard drinks of alcohol” destroyed, according to Mr Gray-Spence.

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet senior executive director John Gaynor talks to Northern Territory Police southern commander James Gray-Spence out the front of Alice Springs police station. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Elaborating on the “destroyed” alcohol, Mr Gray-Spence said it was primarily “legally purchased alcohol that’s consumed in public spaces” which was destroyed by police doing “proactive high visibility foot patrols”.

“We saw a really good result on Monday morning with the recovery of the stolen motor vehicle and the arrest of a number of youths,” he said.

The newly-minted fugitive task force – implemented after a mother and her baby were attacked in Alice Springs – had also resulted in a “further 50 arrests,” Mr Gray-Spence said.

The arrests were made for “outstanding matters” and “other sentence of process arrests,” he said.

Operation Ludlow is due to finish on January 28, or “when school goes back after the peak holiday period,” Mr Gray-Spence said.

Also ending on January 28 are the Territory-wide school holiday programs, which have seen “significant attendance,” according to Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet senior executive director John Gaynor.

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet senior executive director John Gaynor out the front of Alice Springs police station. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Mr Gaynor said “we don’t really know” if the school holiday programs had any impact on crime in Alice Springs.

“But what we do know is that if you’ve got kids who are active throughout the day and those activities are running right throughout the day, that it wears them out,” he said.

“We’re keeping them busy and while they’re busy, they’re not getting bored and looking for other things to do, making mischief.

“We’re pretty confident that we’re keeping a vast majority of the kids occupied during the school holidays.”

School holiday activities include skate and BMX workshops, free pool entry, arts workshops, and more.

The full list of Territory-wide school holiday activities is available online here.