‘Quick, get in the car’: Holiday shoppers shocked by public urination, anti-social behaviour

A man urinating into a ‘pretty planter box’ in Darwin and others screaming in the mall ruined one shopper’s Christmas spirit, but how have things fared elsewhere?

Urinating in public spaces, aggressive behaviour; one Territory punter has had her fill of anti-social activity over the festive season.

Palmerston resident Lilian made her first trip to Darwin since December 2023 to do some Christmas shopping with her nine-year-old granddaughter when things took an unsavoury turn.

Rather than heading along to major shopping centres, Lilian wanted to spend her dollars at local vendors along the Smith Street Mall but a raucous group put a swift end to her Christmas spirit.

“It was really lovely, all the shopkeepers were very friendly, all the decorations were up,” she said.

“It was about an hour and a half in when we were at the top of the mall that a group of people came down, screaming and yelling, and that was when I said to my granddaughter, ‘let’s head out’.

Visitors at Smith Street Mall, a major retail shopping precinct in Darwin. Picture: iStock

“I tried to distract her and we headed back through to where the car was parked but there was another group of people walking along by Hotel Darwin who were also acting up.

“Right near where my car was parked there was a man urinating in the really pretty planter box and so I said to my granddaughter, ‘quick, get in the car’.”

Lilian said the experience put a dampener on the whole excursion.

She said she was also surprised by the lack of security officers, especially during the Christmas period, as she did not see a single one during the shopping trip.

“It seems to be this time of year, there seems to be an influx,” Lilian said.

“At first I noticed that it was really pleasant, I hadn’t seen any drunks or anything, I was thinking how nice it was and then it happened at once.

“It’s Christmas time, you come to have a nice day out and you can’t even do that.”

While city shoppers suffered, it wasn’t the case elsewhere, with Gateway Palmerston spokeswoman Carol Angelosanto, saying fortunately it had been a positive holiday period for the centre with no reports of anti-social behaviour.

Despite no incidents, Ms Angelosanto said safety at Gateway Shopping Centre was “paramount” and any anti-social behaviour would not be tolerated.

“Whilst Boxing Day sales are always robust with customers keen to spend their Christmas gift cards, Gateway also has a substantial swell in customer traffic throughout November and December,” she said.

“Gateway had no anti-social behaviour during this time.

“The safety of our customers, employees and retail team is paramount and has been the cornerstone of our brand positioning and operations policy since the centre’s opening in 2017.

“Gateway has a zero-tolerance policy on anti-social behaviour and works closely with our partners to provide a safe and enjoyable shopping and entertainment experience for our customers to enjoy.”

Casuarina Square was approached for comment, however did not respond by deadline.