Crime falls after Alice Springs alcohol sales restrictions trial

Domestic violence fell by more than 30 per cent and other crimes plummeted in the first month after the NT government began a trial of strict alcohol sale limits in Alice Springs, internal police data shows.

An Alice Springs bottle shop operates under the new alcohol sale restrictions. Picture: Sam Boneham

Domestic violence fell by more than 30 per cent and other crimes plummeted in the first month after the Northern Territory government began a trial of strict limits on the sale of alcohol in Alice Springs, internal police data shows.

The NT government temporarily reduced trading hours for licensed premises in Alice Springs on January 27 as a direct response to crime and chaos in the town since July 2022, when a range of alcohol restrictions including bans on alcohol in town camps and remote communities lapsed with the expiry of the Commonwealth’s Stronger Futures legislation. Under the old laws, all bottleshop customers could be required to prove they were renting, residing or owned an address in Alice Springs. This prevented itinerant people and those from outlying communities from buying alcohol.

An NT government briefing note obtained by The Australian shows that police attended 563 domestic violence incidents in Alice Springs – population 25,000 – in the 28 days between January 2 and 30 this year. However, police attended 390 domestic violence incidents in the 28 days up to February 27, after the government imposed heavy reductions on the hours that licensed premises could open in Alice Springs.

The briefing note shows that police recorded alcohol as a factor in 76 per cent of the domestic violence incidents they attended in the first week of January, before restrictions were reintroduced. By the last week of February, when alcohol restrictions had been in place for almost a month, police recorded alcohol as a factor in 47 per cent of domestic violence incidents.

The briefing note states that the implementation of the three-month trial of reduced trading hours for licensed premises has seen a reduction of anti-social behaviour, domestic violence and general incidents reported.

“Notably, jobs attended were immediately reduced in line with no take away sales, allowing for further pro-active work to be undertaken by general duties,” the note states.

NT Police also reported a 46 per cent reduction in unlawful entries, including burglaries, in the first month after the hours of sales of bottleshops were reduced.

The briefing note says that, anecdotally, it is suggested that with the reduction of alcohol, and therefore a reduction in adult-related anti-social behaviour and offending in Alice Springs, police “are freed up to some degree and able to provide more coverage which acts as a deterrent to youth”.

Police reported that disturbances involving youth reduced by more than 36 per cent in the first month after the trading hours of licensed premises were cut.

The crisis in Alice Springs led the NT government to speed up legislation that gives authority to Indigenous communities to ban alcohol.

The briefing note states: “A concern still exists in regard to the availability of take away alcohol on Saturdays. This day of the week by its nature sees increased consumption of alcohol by community members.”

“A similar if not greater concern is around volume control, i.e. the clarification and tightening of volume controls at the sales counter,” the note states.

“The measures in Tennant Creek have provided evidence over a number of years that volume control has a substantial effect on alcohol consumption and alcohol related offending. This also reduces options of secondary supply.”

The note recommends further restrictions be modified to including reduced hours on Saturdays and the introduction of rules about how much alcohol can be sold to one person.