1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: This discussion about whether alcohol should be banned from seven 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: pm at East Point came to a head last night 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: at the Darwin City Council meeting, the council voting down 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:14,319 Speaker 1: the idea to well not allow drinking past seven pm. Now, 5 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: the request that obviously come from the Northern Territory Police, 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: and joining me in the studio right now is Northern 7 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: Territory Police Commander Matt Holland b Good morning Matt, Good. 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 2: Morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners. 9 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: Now. I know that this issue of public drunkenness and 10 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: people drinking at East Point, it's something that probably a 11 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: lot of us have witnessed ourselves down there. But what 12 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: prompted you to write to. 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 2: The council Katie. 14 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 3: We recognize that there are some issues at East Point. 15 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 3: I think we've had it better than usual for quite 16 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 3: some months, but we recognize that that's turning. 17 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: Around a little bit. 18 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 3: So it was the letter was a part of a 19 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 3: suite of tactical options to try and address the issue 20 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 3: at East Point. It was never designed to be the 21 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 3: silver bullet it was. It was a tactical option to 22 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 3: target the problem. 23 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: I guess the difficult thing is there's you know, a 24 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 1: lot of people go down there and enjoy alcohol quite 25 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: responsibly at East Point, but then there is a small 26 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: group that are doing the wrong thing, isn't there. 27 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right, Katie. 28 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: You know, we do get reports of anti social behavior 29 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 3: and sometimes violent behavior at East Point and it has 30 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 3: been increasing. And part of our job is to spot 31 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 3: emerging issues and deal with them as quickly as we can. 32 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 3: And East Points a classic example where things have risen 33 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 3: in the eyes of policing and you know, I think 34 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 3: you know it's it becomes a policing problem, but it's 35 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 3: also an unemployment problem, and it's a homelessness problem, and 36 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 3: it's an alcohol abuse problem, and it manifests itself as 37 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 3: an anti social behavior problem. So yeah, we are targeting 38 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 3: that area. And this was just part of a suite 39 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 3: of tactical options to to actually target East Point. 40 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: I mean, does it become for us, straight for the 41 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: territory police when you are trying to deal with an 42 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: issue like this that, like you said, there's so many 43 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: facets to it. 44 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. 45 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 3: Absolutely, And you know, we work together quite closely with 46 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 3: Counsel and Larichia Nation and other service providers. Council is 47 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 3: a stakeholder. It is their land, and you know, we 48 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 3: accept their decision and we'll move on and use other 49 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 3: tactical options. 50 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: Were you disappointed with their decision last night or you know, 51 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: is it really a situation here where you've got other 52 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: tools in your belt that you're going to use to 53 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:33,839 Speaker 1: try and deal with this issue? Now? 54 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 3: Look, we asked the question, the council didn't accept the question, 55 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 3: so we'll move forward and use other tactical options. 56 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: There's obviously a bit of an issue with people and 57 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: problem drinkers still being able to get their hands on alcohol. 58 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: Are the police at the moment really taking a bit 59 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: of a closer look in this space? I know that 60 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: there's a few measures center in place for the Greater 61 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: Darwin region in terms of, you know, showing that additional 62 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: sort of license and telling wherever you're buying the alcohol 63 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: from we're going to be consuming that alcohol at the moment. 64 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: But is there a bit of a broader issue here 65 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: at the moment? 66 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: Look, the licensing direction is another tactical option that licensing 67 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 3: have contributed to targeting the issue. I think you know, 68 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 3: early in the COVID nineteen pandemic, Larichia Nation did a 69 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 3: sterling job in terms of repatriating long grasses and itinerants 70 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: back to their home communities. And I think the final 71 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: numbers was around a thousand mark that sent were repatriated 72 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: back to their home communities. Some of those people are 73 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 3: filtering back into town now and as we all know, 74 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 3: there's more money around. 75 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: With the job seeker and job keeper benefits. 76 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: So yeah, there has been an increase in antisocial behavior, 77 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 3: particularly at East Point, and this is part of what 78 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 3: we're doing, is targeting the problem. 79 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: The Lord mayor convat Scarla spoke to me on the 80 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: show yesterday and cited secondary supply as being a concern. 81 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: Is that something that is an issue at the moment. 82 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 3: Look, I think it's another tactical option that we are. 83 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,119 Speaker 2: Taking action against. 84 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 3: And you know, I think you'll see a little bit 85 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 3: more police activity out at each point in a variety 86 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 3: of different ways that to try and stoprobate the problem. 87 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: He suggested that maybe there should be some kind of 88 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: special unit to monitor anti social behavior, but is there already. 89 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, we've got a social order unit, and social 90 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 3: order policing is the responsibility of every police officer, so 91 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 3: it's you know, we don't need to create more units 92 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 3: to deal with policing problems. General duty's police deal with 93 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 3: general policing and so it's you know, it's incumbent on 94 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 3: all police officers to take action to reports or to 95 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 3: positively identify social and behavior issues. 96 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: Is it a bit of a situation here at the 97 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: moment where you know, we that our police have got 98 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: a lot to manage. Obviously there's quite a number of 99 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: police out on the borders. Is there a situation where 100 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: realistically you guys are just trying to juggle everything. 101 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, I mean a lot's happening at the moment. 102 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,119 Speaker 3: We know, we all know that we've got our border 103 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: control points. We've got police at Howard Springs, We've got 104 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 3: police meeting flights in Darwen and Alas Springs. So yeah, 105 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 3: there's a lot of things happening. But you know, we 106 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 3: still have our core policing duties to do as well, 107 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 3: and that includes violence and anti social behavior. But you know, 108 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 3: it's not just a policing issue. There's you know, there's 109 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 3: an unemployment issue, a homelessness issue, and health issues and 110 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 3: alcohol abuse issues that all contribute to the wider issue. 111 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it is something that I think as a 112 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: community we sort of have these conversations every well, you know, 113 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: every six months or so we see a real spike. 114 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: And I know that there's plenty of different ways that 115 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: these issues have dealt with, but you know, it's it's 116 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: never a good thing when you see people out drinking 117 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: alcohol in those really public places. I mean even this morning, 118 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: I was on my way to work driving through Stuart 119 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: Park and there's two women having a fight in the 120 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: park right there next to Vini's and you do just think, 121 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: goodness mate, it's you know, it's a tough thing that 122 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: we're all dealing with in the territory. 123 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, it's tragic really, particularly you know, families fighting 124 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 3: is it's horrible. I mean, I just don't understand how 125 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 3: people can beat up other family members. It just doesn't 126 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 3: make sense to me. You know, some of the positives 127 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 3: to take out of it. A property crime is at 128 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 3: record lows, violent crime is marginally up over the coronavirus pandemic, 129 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 3: and anti social behavior had been at the lower end 130 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: of normal. And you know, we've identified an increase, We've 131 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 3: self identified an increase, and we're looking to stop the 132 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 3: problem before it becomes bigger. 133 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: Well, Matt Holland B Commander here in the Northern Territory 134 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: with the NT Police. We really appreciate your time this 135 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: morning and no doubt we'll talk to you again in 136 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: the very near future. 137 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:06,679 Speaker 2: Is a pleasure, Katie. 138 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: Thank you.