Three-quarters of crime in Alice Springs ‘linked to recidivist offenders’, says NT’s top cop

SEVENTY-FIVE per cent of crime in Alice Springs is linked to recidivist offenders, according to NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker

• Strike Force Viper police task force identifies ringleaders in youth crime crackdown

SEVENTY-FIVE per cent of crime in Alice Springs is linked to recidivist offenders, according to NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

“The Viper advice that I have, localised for Alice Springs, is that about 75 per cent of the offences, they believe, are linked to recidivist offenders,” Mr Chalker said at a press conference last week.

“So we do have a high level of comfort that we know who they are.”

Mr Chalker also said that about 50 per cent of property offences were being committed by youth, based on the current trend.

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This news comes following a spike in property crime in Alice Springs, during which the town endured 25 break-ins over one weekend in January, 15 of which occurred at businesses in the CBD.

However, Mr Chalker said it was important to put statistics into perspective and outside that weekend spike, crime in January was actually trending below previous years.

Mr Chalker said diligent police work had now mitigated the crime spike.

Police Minister Nicole Manison speaks with Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker out the front of Alice Springs police station.

“Alice Springs is obviously a place that we continue to focus (on) and provide resources to ensure that we’re improving the amenity around the town,” Mr Chalker said.

“Pleasingly, in recent days we have seen a downward trend.

“And I think that’s a lot to do with the collective efforts that have been going on here to try and address the issue.

“But we also have to highlight that school has returned. There’s been a heavy focus on trying to get disengaged youth back to school.

“Strike Force Viper have been continually proactive: our activities in the mall, our permanent presence that we’ve had in place, all of these things are continuing to inform us that we’re making a difference.”

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Mr Chalker also acknowledged that police activities in one area did have a “displacement effect”.

So while the CBD has seen a dip in criminal activity over the past week or so, “there is a bit of a move towards some residential activity”.

“I know we’ve gone through a spike period here in Alice Springs and I do feel for all the victims and the broader community impacted by it, but you can rest assured … we will not rest in our commitment to serving and protecting you and helping you.”