City of Darwin to vote on police beat proposal in response to ‘daily’ anti-social behaviour complaints
Daily complaints of anti-social behaviour in Darwin City have prompted the local council to explore an alternative policing option.
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The City of Darwin is moving to beef-up CBD safety on the back of “daily complaints” about anti-social behaviour.
Council officers are proposing that a new police beat be formed in West Lane, a narrow road which runs parallel to Mitchell St.
Councillors will vote this week to offer a West Lane Arcade shop space to the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services for the creation of the new police presence.
It would be the Territory’s only operating police beat.
A proposal document indicates Shop 3 in West Lane Arcade would be offered to NT PFES under a ‘peppercorn lease arrangement’, where lease payments are nominal.
The report indicates that the City of Darwin’s potential loss of income under the agreement is about $9000 per annum.
The proposal has come in response to “daily complaints” to council about anti-social behaviour in the city.
“There are numerous police beats throughout Australia and they assist in providing a safe place for people to explore, shop, eat and drink,” the report reads.
“The Northern Territory government is working with Northern Territory Police, Larrakia Nation, City of Darwin and service providers through a five-point plan to address anti-social behaviour.
“One of the actions is for NT Police to have a visible presence via foot patrols, segways, a mobile caravan, market vans and dog patrols.
“Shop 3 West Lane was last occupied by Smokemart and has been empty for six months.
“(It’s) placed at the glass sliding doors closest to the Victoria Arcade.”
The City of Darwin is spending $3.8m on street and public lighting, as well as other safety measures, in its 2022/23 municipal plan.
Councillors will vote on the proposal in Tuesday’s general meeting.
A NT PFES spokesman said the department was aware of the “well-intentioned proposal” and was awaiting the outcome of the council meeting.
“In general, there are no current police beats operating in the NT as they reduce the capability of police to deliver responsive and mobile policing services,” the spokesman said.
“A police beat is a shopfront with a counter only.
“They have previously operated in Casuarina, Parap, Nightcliff, Alice Springs and Katherine.
“There is a fully serviced police front counter at the Darwin Police Station on the corner of Mitchell and Knuckey Sts, Darwin City.”
NT PFES would not confirm whether it supports the proposal, or how many officers would be needed to staff the new police beat.
The $10.5m Nightcliff Police Station, which opened in December, has come under fire for operating with as little as half the number of staff it was designed for.
West Lane is currently home to several popular restaurants.
Ella, which is run by former MasterChef contestant Minoli de Silva, is the most recent addition.
Apart from the shop slated for the police beat, there is one other vacancy in the arcade.
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Originally published as City of Darwin to vote on police beat proposal in response to ‘daily’ anti-social behaviour complaints
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