The Territory Labor Government is breaking thecycle of crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs through acomprehensive plan, which includes six new mobile closed circuit television(CCTV) cameras.
There are ten mobile CCTV cameras in totalacross the Territory with six located in Alice Springs. They are currentlylocated at Traeger Park, Albrecht Oval, Gap View Hotel, KFC, and TJM 4x4Equipped on Whittaker Street. A sixth camera will come online over the next fewmonths.
The mobile CCTV cameras are strategically placedin anti-social hotspots to assist Police with the identification andprosecution of those caught doing the wrong thing. The cameras are also used tomonitor alcohol supply to fight alcohol-related crime and the secondary supply ofalcohol.
The cameras provide real time monitoring at eachof the locations with Police able to quickly respond to incidents of anti-socialand criminal activity. The cameras will be monitored by Police 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The mobile CCTV cameras are part ofthe Territory Labor Governments investment of $5 million towards CPTED (crimeprevention through environmental design) initiatives in Alice Springs.
CPTED works already undertakeninclude street lighting upgrades in three CBD locations, enhancing the qualityof CCTV footage. The locations are Wills and Leichardt Terraces, and thelaneway connecting Gregory and Stott Terraces at the rear of the DiplomatHotel.
New and upgraded fixed CCTV cameras arecurrently being installed to complement the mobile units. This includes anadditional 32 cameras and eight audio kits. This will bring the Alice SpringsCCTV network from 45 to 77 cameras by mid-June this year.
The addition of mobile CCTV cameras is part ofthe Territory Labor Governments Breakingthe Cycle plan to tackle youth crime and anti-social behaviour in AliceSprings.
Other initiatives include:
- Appoint seven Youth Engagement Night Officers (YENOs) to work seven days a week from 8pm-3am with young people who are on the street (and regularly involved in crime) and get them on a better path. YENOs will support NT Police, Territory Families and non-government youth services. A trial of the new service was conducted during the Easter school holidays. (In effect 28 June)
- Expand the youth drop-in centres. Gap Youth and Community Centre and Tangentyere Council Brown Street now operate seven (up from five) days per week and have extended their bus services. (Already in effect)
- Expand the hours of the Tangentyere Night Patrol to get young people off the streets. Patrol vehicles will run seven nights a week from 6pm-3am. (In effect 3 June)
- Two School Engagement Officers to work with young people who have been identified as being disengaged from schooling. These officers have been appointed. (Already in effect)
- Three School Compliance Officers to work with young people when attempts to increase school attendance has not been successful. These officers have been appointed. (Already in effect)
- Create an Aboriginal-led Youth Outreach Service. A team of senior, respected Aboriginal outreach workers will provide advice and support to youth engagement officers and mentor Aboriginal youth, drawing on the cultural authority of the Tangentyere Council Mens Four Corners Group and Tangentyere Womens Family Safety Group. (In effect 1 July)
As noted by Minister for Territory Families,Dale Wakefield
The Territory Labor Government is listening to thepeople of Alice Springs who have had enough of crime, youth crime, andanti-social behaviour. We have put in place a comprehensive suite of measuresthat gives us a better chance at breaking the cycle of crime and keeps ourcommunity safer.
Mobile CCTV cameras have been shownto deter anti-social and criminal behaviour and are a valuable tool inprotecting the community through deterrence, detection and successfulprosecution of offenders. These cameras will be monitored by Police 24 hours aday, seven days a week.
This is in stark contrast to the chaotic CLPgovernment who failed to invest in Police, and failed to implement any plan to fixthe alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour on our streets. They alsocut funding to vital youth services in Alice Springs.
