Karama and Malak residents told by cops they can use ‘reasonable’ force to protect their homes

VICTIMS of a home break-in can use reasonable force to protect themselves from the offenders, residents at the Karama and Malak community crime forum have been told by senior police

VICTIMS of a home break-in can use reasonable force to protect themselves from the offenders, residents at the Karama and Malak community crime forum have been told by senior police.

NT Police Commander Matthew Hollamby represented police at a community forum held to address a crime crisis in Karama and Malak on Thursday night.

During the forum, he was met with several questions about what residents were legally allowed to do to defend themselves from offenders.

“What if you walk out to find your windows broken and there are kids there with a knife, what are we allowed to do to protect ourselves?” one Malak resident asked.

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Cdr Hollamby said residents had a right to protect their homes and families.

“You can use force to remove them … as long as it’s not unnecessary or disappropriate for the occasion.

“I can’t give you a black and white answer; it’s what reasonable at the time.

“It’s about using common sense.”

Police Commander Matthew Hollamby

Cdr Hollamby said police initiated an operation in Darwin’s northern suburbs in September, specifically targeting Karama and Malak.

“It’s continuing on and will now roll into a broader youth operation across the whole of the greater downtown area,” he said.

“And when I say a youth operation I don’t mean just a youth crime operation, it’s a youth engagement approach as well, with a view to preventing crime as opposed to responding to what often happens.”

During the crime forum residents also asked if problem laneways in their neighbourhoods could be closed.

“These kids who are breaking into houses are using the laneways as their escape routes,” one man said.

“The other day I was woken up by a screech of tyres and a bang.

“Some kids had crashed a stolen car, they jumped out of and ran up the laneway.”

About 100 residents attended a community forum to voice their concerns about the impacts of crime in Karama and Malak on Thursday night. Picture: Natasha Emeck

Darwin alderman Justine Glover responded and said the council were able to close laneways in crime hot spots.

“We have previously responded and closed a problem laneway, but we’d need to investigate first,” she said.

During the meeting Karama MLA Ngaree Ah Kit said she had asked NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker about potentially setting up a police substation in Karama or Malak but was met with resistance.

She said he was willing to consider setting up a police “hot desk” at the new child and family centre the government constructing in Malak next year.

“I think it would be lovely to have police nice and close,” she said.