NT Police deploy extra officers for Operation Ludlow in Alice Springs

Extra officers from out-of-town are being deployed to the troubled town, but police maintain general duty members will be untouched. Here’s where the officers have come from.

The police presence in Alice Springs is expected to increase with the bolstering of Operation Ludlow. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Extra officers from out-of-town are being deployed to Alice Springs, but the NT Police have reassured Territorians that general duty members will be untouched to ensure minimal impact on frontline operations elsewhere.

The confirmation comes after Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said police would stand up additional measures targeted at high-risk repeat offenders and urban patrolling following a horrific alleged attack on a mum and her baby.

On Saturday afternoon, NT Police announced members of the Tactical Response Group and the Search and Rescue Section had been tasked to join Operation Ludlow in Alice Springs.

NT Police maintained no general duties officers from the Territory would be deployed to the troubled town.

Commander Gray-Spence says high-visibility policing will take place through the holiday period. Picture: Gera Kazakov

However, Commander James Gray-Spence said a heavy police presence would continue through the holiday period.

“The high-visibility policing will be in operation over the Christmas New Year period and beyond and we will continue to work closely with the Department of Children and Families Engagement Officers, Public Housing Safety Officers, Lhere Artepe Traditional Owner Patrols and Tangentyere Council Night Patrol members.”

Additionally, it was revealed that in the 24 hours to 6am, Saturday, 70 policing tasks were carried out, including 12 hotspot patrols in areas where anti-social behaviour has been prevalent.

Additionally, six drone flights were conducted across the town.

Following her 48-hour stay in Alice Springs, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro revealed a list of requests would be made to the Albanese Government. Picture: Supplied.

The surge in manpower comes as Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro issued a wish list of topics the Federal government should address to tackle rising violence in Alice Springs.

Ms Finocchiaro revealed the requests would be submitted to the Albanese Government, including removing royalty distributions from Alice Springs and implementing 100 per cent income management for parents of youth offenders.

Ms Finocchiaro said “every option” would be considered.

“This includes considering curfews and leveraging support from interstate police forces,” she said.

“I have been firm in saying that any request to the Federal Government must be tangible, realistic, and make a meaningful impact on the ground.”

NT Police also said that overnight in Alice Springs two motor vehicles were stolen, two unoccupied homes were broken into, one in Gillen and one in Eastside, and a vacant dwelling in Braitling was also reportedly entered.