Clinton Howe says alcohol-fuelled violence rocking the suburb of Gray, Northern Territory

As alcohol-fuelled violence continues to rock the streets of a Top End neighbourhood, residents, business owners and a local member are calling for a crack down. WARNING: Confronting image.

CCTV Footage shows a youth scaling a residential fence line, trying to attack a resident on the other side. Picture: Supplied.

As alcohol-fuelled violence continues to rock the streets of Gray, residents, business owners and a local member are calling on authorities to crack down on the wild hotspots.

The outpour of frustration comes after a particularly vicious incident on the afternoon of April 29, when a woman was allegedly assaulted in a brazen daylight attack at Gray Shopping Centre.

NT Police say the woman was set upon in the car park by a trio of females, who allegedly assaulted her with blunt objects and a bottle.

A man who tried to intervene was also allegedly assaulted.

The female victim was rushed to hospital while paramedics attended to the good Samaritan.

Machete and knife sightings are regularly reported in Gray.

For local residents, the bloody incident joins a long list of attacks and disturbances to have rocked the neighbourhood in recent months.

In January, an eight-hour siege unfolded in a unit complex after an out-of-town visitor, staying with relatives, allegedly refused to leave the premises, and held police at bay with a knife.

Weeks later, another man was stabbed in the same complex.

A resident who tried to break up a fight was glassed from behind for her trouble.

One resident, who did not want to be named, recently witnessed his partner being glassed from behind while she was trying to break up a violent fracas.

“She thought she could disperse them,” he said.

“Instead they surrounded and turned on her.”

Drinks in hand, a group of men block a vehicle from heading home.

The same man, who has lived in Palmerston for 30 years, said there had been a noticeable rise in “alcohol related” domestic violence.

“It’s more in your face,” he said.

“I’d say in the last six or eight months it’s just got progressively worse.”

First responders are accustomed to attending Gray Shopping Centre.

A store manager told this publication “most” of the violence around the shopping centre stemmed from family feuds.

“Relatives argue over whose turn it is to buy grog and when they can’t agree then they punch on,” they said.

“I’ve seen people around here go from innocent, bike riding kids to wearing ankle bracelets, passed out on the (curb).”

Nearby housing complexes are visibly peppered with busted windows and doors.

If the chaos doesn’t erupt in the carpark, the nearby housing complexes are the other hotspots.

“In the morning, you see window repair (workers) and electricians going to the (units) and fixing damages from overnight,” the store manager said.

“It’s taxpayers’ money (paying for it) - you and I are paying for it.”

Member for Drysdale Clinton Howe (pictured) has called for an independent inquiry into the supply of alcohol in the suburb of Gray.

Growing complaints have prompted Member for Drysdale Clinton Howe to formally approach the NT Liquor Commission.

Mr Howe told the NT News it was “my duty to act” following an “overwhelming number of complaints”.

“This isn’t about blame, it’s about getting trusted answers,” he said.

“The Liquor Commission has the power to do that.”

Mr Howe said suburbs such as Gray had become “dumping grounds”.

“The public housing system is broken,” he said.

“Good tenant are trapped while problem tenants wreak havoc.”

Despite being branded as ‘no alcohol’ areas, rubbish bins in Gray can be seen full to the brim with grog cases.

Following the alleged murder of Nightcliff grocer Linford Feick, who was stabbed in his own workplace last month, the Finocchiaro Government reconvened an emergency parliament session to rush through the ‘toughest bail laws in the country’.

The reforms were followed by the CLP announcing $1.34bn would be allocated to implemented the government’s law and order vision.

Mr Howe said a “carrot-and-stick” approach was needed to ensure “those who respected the community” were rewarded.

“Gray has become a pressure cooker; I’m not here to apologise for the mess, I’m here to fix it,” he said.

“Public housing is a privilege and those who respect the community should be rewarded and those who don’t should lose that privilege.”

Originally published as Clinton Howe says alcohol-fuelled violence rocking the suburb of Gray, Northern Territory