Wild brawl in Alice Springs as Northern Territory police chief Jamie Chalker exits

Shocking scenes of violence have played out on the streets of Alice Springs, just as NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker exits his job | WATCH VIDEO

Violence erupts the outside a pizza shop in Alice Springs at the weekend when police were forced to draw their Tasers. Picture: Liam Mendes

Shocking scenes of violence have played out on the streets of Alice Springs just as Northern Territory police commissioner Jamie Chalker exits his job, leaving the beleaguered Territory government hunting for a new police chief amid a fresh wave of alcohol-fuelled crime and racial tension.

The government reached a “confidential settlement” with Mr Chalker, who will now retire, following a botched attempt to ­revoke his appointment six months before his contract expired.

The announcement blindsided Northern Territory Police members who were not informed ­before the government released a joint statement with Mr Chalker on Sunday morning, averting a costly and embarrassing Supreme Court stoush.

The 53-year-old commissioner had been due to serve evidence on Monday in his civil case against Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Police Minister Kate Worden to prevent his removal.

He was also expected to issue subpoenas for communications between Ms Fyles and Ms Worden over the bungled attempt to push him out.

The government ‘has lost complete control of law and order’, says Jacinta Nampijinpa Price after the violence on Saturday. Picture: Liam Mendes

Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy will continue in the top job until the recruitment process for Mr Chalker’s replacement is complete.

Mr Chalker’s departure came as police in Alice Springs at the weekend confronted some of the worst violence in recent memory.

In one incident seen and filmed by The Australian from 2.42am on Saturday, officers were forced to storm a takeaway pizza shop with their Tasers drawn in pursuit of youths who had allegedly armed themselves with a kitchen knife after being ­involved in a wild street brawl with caucasian and Indigenous men.

Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the footage was “plain and simple evidence” that the Northern Territory government “has lost complete control of law and order”.

“That makes my blood curdle to see those sorts of scenes of violence, especially knowing that I’ve got a 24-year-old son who lives in this town,” she said.

“It is evident that this government is failing and if they don’t step in and do what they need to do in terms of what’s been sought of them to ask for assistance from the AFP to restore law and order, then, I’d be urging the Albanese government to intervene.”

Revellers leaving a nightclub in the early hours of Saturday morning fought among each other after an argument escalated into an all-out melee, with a chair used as a weapon. Several individuals who had been involved in the brawl then barricaded themselves inside the pizza shop, with one reported to have grabbed a large kitchen knife, to the horror of shop staff.

Earlier, the group had turned on two caucasian men, one of whom had tried to involve himself in the dispute, brutally bashing them as they lay on the ground.

Police arrived 15 minutes after the first signs of trouble and broke up the brawl, but a panicked pizza shop employee ran outside, calling frantically to the officers.

“There’s a man with a knife ­inside, they are out the back,” the worker said.

The officers entered the building, drawing their Tasers.

“Police, come out, police, come out,” one yelled as they cleared the shop.

Another officer found a man hiding in the rear carpark.

The shop owner told police how she had confronted the man who had taken one of her large pizza knives.

Jamie Chalker. Picture: Liam Mendes

“They just came in, one person, he has so many (knives), he grabbed two, three, I said ‘brother, give me, don’t hold the knife’,” she said. “He just sweared at me and they just ran.”

Senator Price said she had not seen violence to this extent.

“You just can’t expect people in our community to continue to just put up with that level of violence and become desensitised to it.

“We need more police and tougher consequences, especially for recidivism, to deter anti-social behaviour.

“The NT government has to put politics aside and reach out for assistance from the AFP to ­increase police presence.

“At the root of the problem more needs to be done to address child protection and welfare to help get these kids off the streets and into loving and caring homes where they can be given the attention and support they need to thrive.”

Federal MP for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour said the violence was “just disgusting – I just think it’s wrong and we’ve got to do something”.

“With Alice there’s issues with alcohol, but also I think there’s ­issues with illicit drugs like methamphetamines on the streets and that a lot of young Aboriginal people are having access to it,” she said.

Acting Commissioner Murphy, who was in Alice Springs at the time of the assaults, confirmed he would be putting his hand up for the top job, but did not feel the distractions surrounding Mr Chalker’s dismissal had been a “disaster” for the force.

“I think we’re in a pretty positive space to make a difference and bring Alice Springs back into a place to reduce crime because the harmful behaviours we see are confronting,” he told The Australian.

“The behaviours you still see later into the night aren’t acceptable to me, and they’re not acceptable to a number of government agencies so it’s about putting the resources on to address the issues.”

Acting Commissioner Murphy said Operation Drina, which began last November with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour and associated crimes in Alice Springs, would be extended until the end of July.

“We’re going to have a dedicated division of police of over 40 officers committed to doing the same work on high visibility and ­engagement,” he said.

The costly employment dispute with Mr Chalker started when he received a letter from Ms Fyles late in March asking him to ­resign.

The undated letter raised four allegations including accusing him of making an unauthorised request for federal help to fight out-of-control crime in Alice Springs, which turned out to be baseless.

After receiving the letter on March 31, Mr Chalker hired high-profile Sydney legal duo Arthur Moses and Rebekah Giles and launched legal action against Ms Fyles, Ms Worden and the Territory government to prevent his removal.

It was always highly unlikely the Territory government would allow Mr Chalker to put on his evidence or expose the ministers to cross-examination. Sources said it appeared the defendants had ­offered an attractive package to Mr Chalker, ending his horror month of speculation and uncertainty.

In addition to Acting Commissioner Murphy, another likely contender for the top job is deputy chief executive officer of Families and Regional Services, Territory Families, Housing and Community Jeanette Kerr, a former assistant police commissioner.