There is support for the introduction of a youth curfew in Katherine.
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Champions of the curfew say it may help combat vandalism and property crime.
Alderman Toni Tapp-Coutts has suggested a curfew for children under 16 years of age between 10pm and 6am would help police.
Unless the children are in the company of an adult, or have a valid reason to be outside their homes, they can be cautioned, Alderman Tapp-Coutts has suggested.
“If we are able to have a three month crackdown on alcohol sales in Tennant Creek, why can’t we try a curfew in Katherine for three months as well,” she said.
Residents are reporting an increase in petty crime and vandalism to police.
Spray painting and damage to parked vehicles has become a growing problem, residents say.
Katherine East residents suffered an attack by vandals this week.
Residents of Fordham Court in Katherine East woke up Tuesday morning to serious vandalism to their cars and property.
At least six cars parked in front of the flats on Fordham Court, which mainly house pensioners, were spray painted and damaged with rocks.
Police today said they were investigating the incidents.
Opposition police spokeswoman Lia Finocchiaro said the ongoing and rising rates of crime in Katherine, including the recently reported vandalism and petty crime is certainly concerning for the Opposition.
“The Opposition would support the introduction of new measures to combat Katherine’s crime wave, including the examination of a customised youth curfew. This should be customised for the Katherine community and done in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including existing taskforces.
“We would not support youth being taken into the watch house and any customised curfew should be given additional resources accordingly.
“We would expect the Labor government’s alternative bail accommodation plans to be expanded with Katherine’s crime issues in mind, that after hours activities and facilities, such as a youth centre, are comprehensively funded and that decisions were made with children’s safety in mind.”
There has been support for the introduction of a youth curfew on social media.
There does not appear to be a law in the NT against the sale of spray paint to minors.
It is illegal to supply volatile substances to someone if you believe they will inhale it.
Palmerston council has lobbied the NT Government to bring the Territory in line with other states and territories that regulate the sale of graffiti materials to children and minors.
In the most recent crime statistics for Katherine, released this week, Acting Commander Lauren Hill said Katherine experienced an increase in the number of reported violent crimes.
Assault offences increased by 14 per cent (65 offences) when compared with the year ending January 2017.
For January 2018, alcohol and domestic violence is associated to 63.4 per cent of all assaults in Katherine.
Motor vehicle theft and property damage was down but house and commercial business break-ins were up.
Commander Hill said when compared with the same period in 2017, Katherine’s total property offences have decreased by 10 per cent.
However when compared with the year ending January 2017 there were five per cent (43) fewer offences in Katherine.
“The Katherine Property Crime and Youth Engagement teams work with community organisations and youth service providers. Developing positive relationships and speaking with at risk youth has a flow-on effect of disrupting property crime sprees,” she said.
She said both Katherine and Tennant Creek conducted operations in conjunction with other government stakeholders such as Licensing Inspectors targeting the illegal supply of alcohol, and Public Housing Safety Officers targeting anti-social behaviour in Department of Housing properties.
Police work closely with various government agencies and non-government organisations on the Family Safety Framework, to improve the safety of many women and children in regional areas.
Police are actively targeting the secondary supply of alcohol as part of the prevention of violence and ongoing alcohol harm and 10 breaches by licensees have been detected to date.
Police encourage the community to report all suspicious activity and offending by reporting crimes to 131 444 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Further, NT Police encourage the community to access the Neighbourhood Watch NT website, which provides some practical tips on how you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim.
The NT Government did not respond to the Katherine Times.