Leaders plead for help in face of ‘bleak’ crime situation

CENTRAL Australian leaders say residents are at crisis point as crime continues to plague the region

CENTRAL Australian leaders say residents are at crisis point as crime continues to plague the region.

The latest Northern Territory Police crime statistics reveal crime against the person has jumped about 17 per cent in Alice Springs and domestic violence related assault has jumped 30 per cent year on year to January 31.

Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan, Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley and Tennant Creek Mayor Jeff McLaughlin have voiced concerns about ongoing crime

Araluen independent MLA Robyn Lambley said the Alice Springs community was feeling hopeless in the wake of the continued crime.

“It’s very bleak with what’s happening in Alice Springs,” Ms Lambley said.

“We need leadership from the Chief Minister and it’s just not coming.” She said residents were shaking their heads in disbelief in the lack of response from the government in the wake of the A Current Affair story aired earlier this week.

“Despite the urgency and crisis we have not seen any presence from the government,” she said.

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Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan is calling for a safety audit of organisations in Alice Springs to determine if there are gaps in the system or changes to be made that would help address the issue.

“My position is that unless we face up to things we are never going to get to a new point,” he said.

“I think everyone is trying to do their best but we don’t seem to understand where the gaps are.”

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Tennant Creek Mayor Jeff McLaughlin said community members had taken to holding vigils overnight at the BP service station in a bid to protect property.

“I might be the mayor but it seems like this town is run by a bunch of little kids,” he said.

“We need some more action from the Northern Territory government to deal with these offenders.”

Tennant Creek is set to get a new youth justice centre which Mr McLaughlin said was a positive addition to the community.

He said in light of the news a boy was allegedly raped in Karama last week, crime was not just a Central Australian issue, but Territory wide.

“There’s got to be a line in the sand here,” he said.