Ten men arrested as Jovi Boys gang violence causes chaos in Peppimenarti

An increased police presence in the troubled community of Peppimenarti has resulted in at least ten people being arrested.

Michael Murphy, the Northern Territory's police commissioner has arrived in Peppimenarti to address an uptick in gang violence. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Ten men have been arrested after extra police arrived in Peppimenarti in response to the ongoing gang violence in the community.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy went to the Daly River region community on Tuesday along with the Territory Response Group and detectives from Crime Command.

He promised to “arrest al the trouble makers”.

Community members told this publication there had been years of unrest at the hands of local gang the Jovi Boys.

Since Tuesday 10 people have been arrested, including a 20-year-old man charged with three counts of aggravated assault and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, an 18-year-old charged with stealing and criminal damage and a 25-year-old man charged with breaching bail.

Northern Territory Police have moved into Peppimenarti after community unrest. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Six other people were arrested on Thursday morning and are in police custody.

An 18-year-old man has since been released from police custody pending further investigations.

It comes as a 29-year-old man was pulled over by members of the Drug and Organised Crime team on the main road into the region, Ports Keats Road.
He was found to have 3.6kg of cannabis and a large quantity of cash in the vehicle and arrested by police.

NT Police Commander Kylie Anderson said the force would continue to crack down on crime in the area to ensure the safety of the community.

“NT Police are at the coal face of these deep rooted issues and we will continue to work Traditional Owners, Elders and government and community stakeholders to implement solutions,” she said.

Police Commissioner arrives in troubled town amid unrest

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has personally arrived in Peppimenarti along with specialist tactical officers in response to ongoing gang violence in the troubled community.

Local Traditional Owner Anastaisia Naiya Wilson said she spoke to Mr Murphy on the ground on Tuesday after what locals say has been an insufficient police response to years of unrest attributed to the notorious Jovi Boys.

“We had (Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson) from Port Keats and the Police Commissioner, he came and talked to us, it was actually really good,” she said.

Members of Peppimenarti's notorious Jovi Boys gang filmed in the remote community. Picture: Supplied

“They’ve got (the Territory Response Group) and reinforcements for the policemen to arrest all the menace to society people.”

Ms Wilson, whose nephew was run over by a car by gang members in the early hours of Sunday morning, said the Jovi Boys were again “running amok” on Tuesday.

“That was like six o’clock in the morning and they nearly ran over somebody (else),” she said.

Ms Wilson said Mr Murphy had assured her the newly arrived heavy police presence would “arrest all the troublemakers”.

“They’ve got reinforcements in community now,” she said.

“They’ve got extra policemen coming and they’re going to do statements with us.”

Ms Wilson said she had asked Mr Murphy to help ensure gang members arrested for terrorising Peppimenarti residents were not sent back to the community on bail.

“We just put it to him like when they go to jail and when they make bail applications, we don’t want them to come back into the community and they’re going to enforce that,” she said.

“So that’s a good outcome, probably the media’s making them move.”

NT Police said extra resources were sent to the town to help “facilitate calm and to provide respite” to community members.

“The Commissioner and CEO flew into the community earlier (on Tuesday) with the Territory Response Group, detectives from Crime Command and officers from surrounding areas to provide support to local officers,” a spokesman said.

“Investigations remain ongoing into the recent disturbances in the area, including the community unrest, unlawful entries and stolen motor vehicles.

“The safety of the community and its residents is our number one priority and NT Police will continue to work with Traditional Owners, Elders and stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions to what are deeply entrenched familial conflicts.”

Originally published as Ten men arrested as Jovi Boys gang violence causes chaos in Peppimenarti