Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker says authorities contemplating booze ban for Katherine

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has warned a Top End town could see its liquor sales curtailed amid concerns about anti-social behaviour in defiance of lockdown.

ALCOHOL-fuelled offences in Katherine have prompted authorities to consider implementing restrictions on liquor sales in the Top End town.

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said on Friday that compliance with the current lockdown in Katherine was being marred by incidents involving alcohol.

“In Katherine again more broadly, unfortunately some of the alcohol-linked behaviour is becoming a bit more prominent,” he said.

“The Commander of the Northern Region is engaged with the director of Licencing this morning to start contemplating whether restrictions need to be in place.

“Please understand that you are in a lockdown here and our patience will start to change if you become a frequent flyer, which some are certainly starting to push those boundaries.”

Mr Chalker said Katherine’s only full-line supermarket, Woolworths Katherine, would be open until 10pm after staff were allowed back to work.

The store was listed as a casual contact site three occasions on November 12 and 13.

Mr Chalker urged Katherine residents to only send one person from each household out to get groceries.

Close contact exposure sites include the Katherine Hospital’s emergency and outpatient departments, BP Katherine, Gudbinji Clinic and Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner urged Katherine residents to continue checking exposure site listings after two new cases were announced on Friday morning, taking the cluster to 25.