Police, youth engagement officers combine to reduce anti-social behaviour across Top End

The NTPA has raised concerns a new ‘public order unit’ announced by the government this week could be a second tier of policing.

THE Northern Territory Police Association has raised concerns a new Public Order Response Unit could become a second tier of policing.

The Fyles government on Tuesday unveiled the new unit and extra funding to help businesses secure their property against break-ins and anti-social behaviour.

But NTPA president Paul McCue said his organisation had not been consulted beforehand and questioned whether the unit would receive adequate training.

“This is a clear indication of the failure to ensure sufficient police are on the ground to do the job. It may in fact create more work for our understrength police,” Mr McCue said.

“Have we really got to the stage we are cutting costs by introducing second tier policing by having security guards patrolling the streets regarding anti-social behaviour?”

Police Union Boss Paul McCue has raised concerns about the new unit, describing it as a “second tier” of policing. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mr McCue said he feared “the security guards” would be victimised themselves by anti-social behaviour, and called on the Fyles government to release further information on the unit.

The NT government was contacted for comment to the NTPA’s comments on Wednesday.

The NT News on Tuesday sought further details from the government on the new taskforce, which will work within the Greater Darwin area.

It is understood that under the new unit, youth engagement officers will work alongside police officers to address anti-social behaviour.

It is also understood similar efforts are being drafted in Central Australia.

Business cautiously approve new efforts against crime

BUSINESS and industry bodies have reacted with cautious optimism to an announcement of greater integration between NT Police and Territory Families in battling crime across the Territory.

But the Chamber of Commerce has questioned why a co-ordination group focusing on anti-social behaviour across the Top End hasn’t been extended beyond Darwin and Palmerston.

The NT News understands efforts are underway to establish an interagency response in Alice Springs.

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Ireland said businesses appreciated “every opportunity that government can provide to increase our safety and security around this crime and anti-social behaviour issue”.

“The initiatives seen here across the agency collaborations … are certainly a step in the right direction,” Mr Ireland said.

He was upbeat about greater co-ordination between NT Police and Territory Families.

Mr Ireland also said upgrades to the Biz Secure scheme were welcome.

The scheme allows businesses to apply for a government co-contribution for security improvements to their businesses.

Changes announced on Tuesday morning included increasing the amount of money a business can access to $15,000.

The government will now also fund up to 75 per cent of those improvements, up from 50 per cent.

“While many businesses will benefit from many of the physical measures that can be put in place, the main core of the issues are not being addressed,” Mr Ireland said.

Property Council of Australia NT executive director Ruth Palmer said the changes were “pleasing”.

Property Council NT executive director Ruth Palmer is happy with an increase in grants. Picture: SUPPLIED

“We have been quite vocal on crime and unacceptable behaviour for some time now and we welcome any, and all initiatives that attempt to tackle law and order,” Ms Palmer said.

Noodle House owner Nelson Jong said he had previously used Biz Secure to upgrade cameras on his business.

But Mr Jong said the $15,000 maximum grant was not enough to fully protect his business.

“My intention was to put shutters on the windows and the door. The shutters cost about $32,000,” he said.

“Biz Secure is nowhere near enough to cover.”

Speaking to Mix 104.9’s Katie Woolf, Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said the Biz Secure changes were a “bandaid” that did not address the core problems.

Combined force to combat crime

THE NT government has established an interagency tasking group aimed at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour across Darwin and Palmerston

The Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield Interagency Tasking Coordination Group (DPLITCG) has been formed to reduce anti-social behaviour across the Top End region.

Police officers and youth engagement officers will come together more frequently to address pockets of crime and come up with ways to prevent youth offending.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said crime had always been a concern across the Northern Territory.

“Community safety, property crime and anti-social behaviour has always been a concern for the Territory,” Ms Fyles said.

“We’re also co-locating NT government resources with youth engagement officers at the Nightcliff police station.

“This is aimed at identifying those small cohorts that participate in repetitive anti-social behaviour and want to capture them before it gets to the point of criminal activity.”

Originally published as Police, youth engagement officers combine to reduce anti-social behaviour across Top End