The real battle will be ensuring these kids are given the mentoring and support they need

MANINGRIDA was a community in crisis last month, facing a wave of youth crime and their high rates of property offences in half a decade

MANINGRIDA was a community in crisis last month, facing a wave of youth crime and their high rates of property offences in half a decade.

The NT News visited the community recently to meet with the hardworking remote cops in Maningrida to get a better idea of the work they are doing on the ground to tackle this problem.

The man at the helm of the Maningrida Police Station, Sergeant Kim Chambers, has been in the community for 10 years now but it hasn’t been until recently that he’s seen social media fuel crime like it has.

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Young offenders have been posting videos of themselves on TikTok and Instagram boasting about the cars and other things they’ve stolen.

The young kids responsible for breaking into the Maningrida Arts and Culture Centre also took videos of themselves as they knocked over artworks.

Speaking with local artists at the centre, it’s clear to see the frustration and sadness many feel about the actions of these young offenders.

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Police have done well to identify the core group of kids behind these crimes and offending rates are already starting to return to normal.

But the real battle will be ensuring these kids are given the mentoring and support they need to not continue this cycle of crime. It’s sad to hear cops say some kids want to go to Don Dale now. This shouldn’t be happening.

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