Strike Force Viper police task force identifies ringleaders in youth crime crackdown

THE new youth crime task force Strike Force Viper has already identified the predominant ringleaders causing trouble, NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker says

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THE new Alice Springs youth crime task force has already identified the predominant ringleaders causing trouble in the town, NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker says.

Strike Force Viper has made more than 240 apprehensions, 115 that involved youths, since the force began operating on October 14.

Mr Chalker said of those, 37 young offenders had been identified, including 14 repeat offenders.

“It took them some time to identify those relevant unique offenders,” he said during NT parliament budget estimates last week.

“There has been a long list of criminal activity listed to a number of them and have now caught up with them.

“Pleasingly, the predominant ringleaders have been identified and are either on remand, have been imprisoned or have been under relevant controllers that relate to further work we have in place with other agencies.”

Mr Chalker said there had been 111 arrests made under Viper, 65 summonses, 29 sent to diversion, 26 warrants issued and 11 breaches of bail.

It comes after the Alice Springs Town Council recently unanimously voted to call on the NT Government to take further steps to address the town’s crime problems, including implementing a possible curfew.

Councillor Eli Melky said property crime had increased to a point where the council couldn’t afford to ignore it.

“Ten years ago you would have never seen the rate of car thefts we do now — it’s become a type of sport with offenders now,” he said.

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However, Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said she was personally opposed to bringing in a town curfew.

Mr Chalker said he acknowledged that Alice Springs had clearly seen a spike in youth crime.

“Part and parcel of what occurred once the biosecurity lockdowns was removed, was we saw an artificial environment where Alice Springs in particular had a surge in property crime,” he said.