The idea of a curfew has supporters among some community leaders, but not all.

Police say a curfew is a matter for politicians and not them.

There are some curfews already in place for Katherine, they are regularly imposed by courts on bail conditions.

Katherine Alderman Toni Tapp Coutts is still championing the radical idea, one year on, which would see youth under the age of 18 off the street between 10pm and 6am. 

"If they are out on the streets after 10pm wondering around they either have to go home or go somewhere safe," Ms Tapp Coutts said. 

"I want the NT Government to trial a youth curfew because nothing else is working." 

Residents fed up with the reckless vandalism have also suggested a curfew on the Katherine Times' Facebook page following articles telling of break-in after break-in.

"When I was in Rockhampton in '98 they had a midnight curfew and areas patrolled with police dog handlers. They certainly gave me the hurry up down the train tracks back to the great western," one person wrote. 

"Make them clean up and apologise. I think it might be a solution. Shame them in front of the public. Also, a curfew should be in place," another person commented. 

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However, Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson has said the introduction of a youth curfew would only tie up police resources and force children back to the home issues they are escaping. 

“I have consulted with experts on this matter for years, and while I’m open to discussions on how to stop youth crime in Katherine, there is no evidence that youth curfews actually work," Ms Nelson said. 

"My consultation with police are that some of the key issues with children roaming the streets at night relate back to parental capacity, and that is why my government is investing in family support programs and generational change.

“Forcing kids to stay at home punishes those doing the right thing and will tie up the resources of our police and youth work forces in a never-ending cycle of community hide and seek.

“We know that children that are involved in crime most likely come from unhappy, dysfunctional homes, that’s why my government is investing in alcohol reforms, domestic and family violence reforms, and family support services.

"These strategies are long term, but in the immediate term we have increased policing resources, and implemented new programs such as Back on Track, and community initiatives such as Blue Eagle Muay Thai in Katherine."

Katherine Police Commander Michael Hebb said that while there are current restrictions on some youth in Katherine through bail conditions, the introduction of a curfew could not be put in place by police, it had to be legislated by the government. 

"It should be noted a curfew would affect all youth including youth not engaging in unlawful behavior," he said. 

Despite a heightened police presence, government plans and more CCTV cameras lining the streets, crime has risen a considerable amount -  in the past year, 310 shops were broken into in Katherine, approaching one per day. 

A year on from first making the suggestion, Alderman Toni Tapp Coutts continues to support the introduction of a youth curfew. 

"If they are out on the streets after 10pm wondering around they either have to go home or go somewhere safe," she said. 

"I want the NT Government to trial a youth curfew because nothing else is working." 

Acknowledging the issue of sending young people back to homes they may be avoiding due to family issues, abuse or a lack of food, Mrs Tapp Coutts said Katherine needs a safe house "where kids can go if they are picked up at night". 

"With the under-use of the sobering up shelter it should be changed to a night hub and safe house. 

"There are 18 beds and it is totally underutilised. Police or [Kalano] Night Patrol could take them to a safe place for the night. They could get up, have breakfast and then access the support of service providers to get them back on track. 

"We know most break-ins are for food and cash, it is our moral and community responsibility to ensure children are safe," she said. 

In response to claims a youth curfew should not impact children who do not offend she said "no kid should be walking home that late". 

"If they are legitimately walking home from work that is a different story, but the issue is the kids hanging around in groups - there needs to be a curfew.

"It is evident from the statistics and rising crime rates that something is happening," she said. 

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