Mounted Police take to streets as part of Operation Exstrom crackdown anti-social behaviour

OFFICERS from the Mounted Police Unit tipped out alcohol and engaged with itinerants on day two of Operation Exstrom

Senior Constable Charles Drury on Faceman enforcing alcohol laws on the streets of Darwin.

OFFICERS from the Mounted Police Unit tipped out alcohol and engaged with itinerants on day two of Operation Exstrom yesterday.

Senior Constables Erin Simonato and Charles Drury jumped into the saddles of Sabre and Faceman patrolling the Darwin CBD and chatting with people about creating a safe offering in town.

There was a noticeable drop in the number of people loitering in the city centre on day two of the operation.

The first stop was Bennett Park where the police tipped out a duo’s wine without incident.

MORE TOP NEWS

People in the area should avoid unnecessary travel to allow for the safe evacuation

$250k reward for information into missing man Paddy Moriarty

Maea Tongamoa: Alleged ringleader of six-on-one bashing released on bail

“They had a little bit of wine in a fruit juice bottle, we destroyed that, engaged with them, found out where they are from, where their home communities are, why they’re in town,” Constable Drury said

“And after a few minutes we took the last quarter bottle from their bag and destroyed that, they’ve moved on now, it’s a positive interaction where we achieved our outcome.”

Mutitjulu resident David Rodgers is a park ranger back home but has been stuck in Darwin for seven months after travelling to the Top End to have surgery on his broken ankle.

Mr Rodgers said he was going home next week.

Sitting on a bench at Tamarind Park, he said he had been staying at accommodation at a nearby church but was now looking to stay with family.

David Rogers of Mutitjulu on the streets of Darwin, is happy to have the police presence around the city.

Mr Rodgers was thankful for the police presence in the city.

“They are good people, they are looking after us, we have responsibility to them and they to us,” he said.

Mr Rodgers said it was the younger generation that were “running a muck”.

Constable Drury said their role in the operation was to help address social order and disrupt public drinking.

“We tackle everything, not just anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) we dealt with domestic violence, but mostly all the stuff that occurs in public places generally.”

Senior Constable Erin Simonato (L) on Sabre and Senior Constable Charles Drury on Faceman on the streets of Darwin.

Acting Commander Antony Deutrom said police would look to review their practises after the three-day crime blitz to see how their services and partnerships with other agencies could change.

“We actually need to take this opportunity to have a look at what we’re doing,” A/Cdr Deutrom said.

HOT NEW DEAL: Read everything for 28 days for just $1

“It may require some additional operations in the immediate future but we need to be able to take something meaningful out of it, and to make some additional changes where required because the replication of operation after operation will see temporary adjustments.

“But we need to make some longer term changes and affect (our) strategy in relation to alcohol consumption and possession.”

Follow @JudithAisthorpe