Chief Minister’s offer to fund ‘activities’ to address youth crime in Alice Springs is an insult
THE time has well and truly passed to ‘engage’ youth with ‘activities’ to stop them from smashing windows and stealing other people’s belongings. Instead, offenders need to be caught and punished in a way that makes them stay out of trouble, writes DENISE CAHILL.
Opinion
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THE time has well and truly passed to “engage” youth with “activities” to stop them from smashing windows and stealing other people’s belongings.
These offenders need to be caught and punished in a way that makes them stay out of trouble … for good.
Once that happens, then the town of Alice Springs can provide some pleasant activities and entertainment to help them pass the day and stay out of trouble.
Every day, there are at least four posts on the Action for Alice 2020 Facebook page about houses, businesses and cars being broken into along with groups of youths acting suspiciously in local streets.
This is on top of the bigger police reports about youths stealing cars and going on joy rides, assaulting innocent people and setting fires.
Providing activities for these little darlings won’t get them off the street and out of the crime cycle.
But a paddy wagon, some hard discipline and harsh consequences will.
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That Chief Minister Michael Gunner has told Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan to apply for NT government funding to provide “activities” for youth to address the out-of-control crime problem in the town, is an insult.
It also shows an ignorance towards the severity of the youth crime problem in Alice Springs.
Mr Gunner wrote to the council in response to its motion last December calling on the NT government to do more to combat crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs.
In reply, Mr Gunner spruiked the government’s offer of funding for facilities to engage kids.
“I do agree that everyone has a role to play in community safety and I invite the Alice Springs Town Council to join us in our efforts in this space,” Mr Gunner wrote.
“The council has many options available for youth and community activities and government has offered funding for facilities that will engage the town’s youth.
“While the Northern Territory government has been very active in working to address community safety, social and economic challenges, many of these can only be achieved with the co-operation of the council.”
Not surprisingly, Mr Ryan bit back. “He’s (Mr Gunner’s) forever saying ‘council has to do something’. But the council doesn’t run police. We don’t run the courts, we don’t run Corrections,” the Mayor said.
“Support the people of Alice Springs who’ve had enough of this crime.
“That’s all I ask of the Chief Minister: please do your job.”
There continues to be more sympathy than criticism for Territory cops who have low retention rates and officers leaving at the rate of 10 a month.
While the government’s performance in the police area has been poor, there has been some moves that need a shout-out, including the successful Strike Force Viper that was set up in October and the 24/7 youth centre established in December last year.
The youth service won’t solve the serious crime problem in Alice Springs, but it will provide services, support and food to kids who are potentially on the streets because it’s better than their home environment.
This is an essential service that will continue to see positive results but the criminals need to be caught and punished … before they’re given the privilege of being helped by hardworking people trying to improve their lives and safety within the community.
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Last week, the government also installed a mobile police station in the Todd Mall to help combat the spate of commercial break-ins.
Soon after the police van parked up, a couple of intrigued youths wanted to check out the flash-looking addition to the mall.
One police officer was dubious while the other tentatively allowed them in for a quick look.
The severity of the crime issue has gone beyond police officers playing nice with youths.
You can’t blame them for being suspicious and untrusting.
Denise Cahill is the Head of News at the NT News
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