1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: So, as we heard on the show yesterday, Woolwards and 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: Catherine have reduced their opening hours to minimize safety concerns. 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: We've also spoken quite a bit in recent days about 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: the issues being experienced in the town. Now. Due to 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: that increase in police demand, Catherine Police have increased some 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: of their proactive measures in order to try and drive 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: down crime and anti social behavior. Local police say that 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: alcohol remains a primary catalyst for crime and anti social 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: behavior across the region, and in response, the police have 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: significantly increased band drinker orders for problem drinkers. Now joining 11 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: me on the line is the acting commander for the 12 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: Catherine Region, Terry's Dang. Good morning to you. 13 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: Terry, Good morning Katie. Thank you for having me here. 14 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you so much for your time this morning, 15 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: because I know that you guys are incredibly busy at 16 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: the moment. Can you firstly talk me through the number 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: of people who have been given band drinker orders and 18 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: what exactly that means. 19 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: Sure, So, band drink order has always been there is 20 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: one of the effective tools under the Liquor Act that 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 2: place can use to reduce demand on alcohol. Whatever we 22 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: have seen is from late February and during the month 23 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 2: of March, there was an increase in the number of 24 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: people visiting CATERN for a number of reasons, so we 25 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: changed our way we operated with Instead of focusing on 26 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: delivering point of cell intervention, we started to exploring other options, 27 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 2: including the band drink holder and by way of numbers. 28 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: In February twenty twenty five, Pattern Place issued seventy three 29 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 2: band drink holders and that's consistent with the historical average 30 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 2: from March that increased to one forty one. That as 31 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 2: the result of the efforts from late March, which shifted 32 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 2: our focus to BDEO, and it's very pleasing to see 33 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: that in the month of April or we actually issued 34 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 2: three hundred and thirty two and I actually expect the 35 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 2: number for May to go up right. Stats will be 36 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: released in early June. 37 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a massive increase. My understanding is that 38 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: that February to April, that's a three hundred and fifty 39 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: four percent increase in the number of bdos. How do 40 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: you feel that will stop or hopefully minimize some of 41 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: the issues that you're seeing as a result of alcohol 42 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: issues in the town. 43 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: We have definitely seen real impact in terms of the 44 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: core volumes to police every day from the Catin region. 45 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 2: That's one of the metrics I've been monitoring. We have 46 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 2: seen a significant reduction in demand. What it does is 47 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 2: make it people unbunching called the more difficult to access alcohol. 48 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: They may still go to results or other means such 49 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 2: as secondary supply or sometimes to go to the licensed 50 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 2: venue to access alcohol, but it just to reduce a 51 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 2: sheer volume. Yeah. And also sometimes Catherine is a heart 52 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: for service in the region and people come to Catherine 53 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:17,839 Speaker 2: from remote communities for legitimate reasons. Yeah, but sometimes what 54 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: we have seen is that they're opportunistic when the alcohol 55 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: is more accessible some tenal state or their longer. So 56 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: that's what we are trying to address. 57 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: And so tell me, Commander, in terms of people that 58 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: are traveling into Catherine from other remote communities, I mean, 59 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: have you got a situation or have you had a situation, 60 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: because we've been talking quite a bit about it in 61 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,119 Speaker 1: recent days about some of the issues that locals say 62 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: they're experiencing, and it does seem as though from what 63 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: you've said and from what others have said, that there 64 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: are people traveling in from those various communities and staying 65 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: for longer and maybe not behaving in a way that 66 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: is expected. So what work can be done with the 67 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: Northern Piritary Police and I'm assuming the land councils to 68 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: try and get people home if they're not doing the 69 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: right thing. 70 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie. That's a good point and exactly we're working 71 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 2: on that. So in that we look at multi agency solutions. 72 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 2: People do come in for a wide range of legitimate reasons. 73 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: We are working very closely with education, health, land councils 74 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 2: and there are some communities they actually have government funded 75 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: programs for example from NUKA to have the Younger mangy 76 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: Anti Source of Behavior Medigation program aimed to getting people 77 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: back to the community return to country program. So we 78 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 2: are working with some other agencies to reduce that demand 79 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: on alcohol and that is a medium to long term 80 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: plan in terms of addressing the drivers for crime, the 81 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 2: underlying also issues. I just want to highlight that video 82 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: is only one of the measures we are implementing. We 83 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 2: also have increased the support Link referrals. So from first March, 84 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: pattern Place made two hundred and eighty four referrals covering 85 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: over one hundred issues. But you know the effective ones, 86 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: they are forty five for housing, so we regularly conduct 87 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: joint operations with public housing safety offices and to address 88 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: overcrowding issues, to address drinking restricted premises issues, and out 89 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: of the forty five referrals, we have seen a number 90 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 2: of voluntary restricted premise applications, which is a good sign 91 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: showing that tenants are actually taking control and you know, 92 00:05:55,839 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 2: taking proactive measures to reduce the and wanted visit. Sometimes 93 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: to have an application when family from remote communities visit, 94 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: it's difficult for some of the vulnerable law occupy attendants 95 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 2: to say no, and they are so that we're empowering 96 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: them to manage that overcrowding issue, and that has led 97 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 2: to a reduction in the number of unwanted visitors. 98 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: Well, that is hopefully a good thing. Commander. I guess 99 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: what we're hearing though from the people of Catherine at 100 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: the moment is, you know, while these measures may be 101 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: implemented and certainly you know, the number of people on 102 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: the bdos and the other support link services and that 103 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: kind of thing are great measures and seem to be helping, 104 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: it does sound as though the people of Catherine are 105 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 1: really screaming out saying, you know, we have had enough 106 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: of the issues that we're experiencing when it comes to 107 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: crime and anti social behavior. Have you got enough police 108 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 1: in the Catherine region at the moment. 109 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: That is a good question, and unfortunately, Katie, it is 110 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: no simple answer to that question. So there are two 111 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:08,119 Speaker 2: pillars to placing. One is actually looking at responding to crime, 112 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 2: reduced crime, reduce high harm crime such as domestic violence, 113 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: aggravated assault. But another important pillar is that making public 114 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: feel safe, and public deserve to be able to feel 115 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: safe when they go about their daily business and shopping 116 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: and enjoying the facilities within the CBD area. So I 117 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: do acknowledge that as a result of that increase in 118 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: visitors from Pirty much to early April, and these always 119 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: a lake with public perception and people have seen sustained 120 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: anti social behavior for a number of weeks, and that's 121 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 2: really what made us to rethink whole week and effectively 122 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: allocate our results and opera it From early April, we 123 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: changed how we operate to be more proactive. Clearly, what 124 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 2: we were doing before is covering takeaway er outlets, conducting 125 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 2: point of sale intervention when we didn't have consistent full coverage. 126 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: We're only covering some of the photo shops. It wasn't effective, 127 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: But at the same time, I do acknowledge that public 128 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 2: sentiment they're no longer seeing place and bottle shops and 129 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: their perception of public safety has diminished. So we are 130 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,839 Speaker 2: doing a lot of work in increasing our presence at 131 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 2: the shopping center. So we have relocated our from Thursday 132 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 2: to Saturday, and we implemented this Patrollers meeting where every 133 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: agency and community based programs such as klannals transport and 134 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 2: use Transport service, we meet together. We discuss issues, just 135 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: make sure that all the agencies have a my presence, 136 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 2: we're on the same page in terms of the operational demand. 137 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 2: We have relocated that daily meeting to the Oasis Shopping Center. Yeah. One, 138 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 2: that's a desurance and also at the same time to 139 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 2: let public see multi agency working together and provide that 140 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: sense of safety. Yeah. 141 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,959 Speaker 1: Now, if you have just joined us, I am joined 142 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: on the show by the acting Commander for the Northern 143 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: Territory Catherine Region, by Terry Zang. Now, Commander, can I 144 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: ask we'd had We had locals say to us last 145 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: week that there are kids coming into town from different 146 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: communities unsupervised, running a mark in the city, targeting women 147 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: in some cases trying to steal their handbags on the 148 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: main street. What work is being done to make sure 149 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: that we don't have unsupervised kids making their way to 150 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: Catherine and doing the wrong thing. 151 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, Yes that I have been made aware of 152 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 2: the issue and has been an ongoing issue. Not only 153 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 2: kids come into town on their own, but also sometimes 154 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 2: when they come in with family members for legitimate reasons, 155 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 2: there's a lack of supervision, adequate supervision, especially at night. 156 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: So at night, as I said, from Thursday to Saturday. 157 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 2: In addition to the police presence, we also have the 158 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 2: Department Children and Family Circuit Breaker program. They have a 159 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 2: team of eight between eight to two and to ten 160 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 2: members and they're in two vehicles. What we do is 161 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 2: collectively we interact with children out of that a night 162 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: on the street and supervised and the circuit breaker or 163 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: place under the Care and Protection Act actually take them home, 164 00:10:55,920 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: speak to the responsible adult and also next day during 165 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 2: business hours, there's a follow up and to make sure 166 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 2: that they are what I've noticed that if they don't 167 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 2: take action, they don't take what happens. 168 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: So if they do come in from another community and 169 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 1: they're unsupervised, I mean, then can the Northern Territory Police 170 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: get them back home or can a service get them 171 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 1: back home? What's to go with them? 172 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 2: When they do come into the community and we have 173 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 2: a concern for their welfare and safety, police will take 174 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 2: immediate action in removing them from that situation. And after 175 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 2: that we refer to the DCF Circuit Breaker program and 176 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 2: they will do a range of follow ups with the 177 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 2: response blade out with family members and cares in town 178 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 2: and work out a plan as to hold a return 179 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 2: them to country or in truer there is adequate level 180 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 2: of supervision. Well they are in Catherin. 181 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: All right, Commander, we are going to have to get 182 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: ready to wrap up. But to those listening in Catherine 183 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: this morning that is still really concerned about the issues 184 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: that they're experiencing when it comes to crime, when it 185 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: comes to anti social behavior and just you know, bad 186 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: behavior more generally with drunks around the place, people intoxicated 187 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: in public places and for a lot of locals just 188 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: not feeling safe. What is your message to those people 189 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: in Catherine. 190 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 2: First of all, I thank everyone and the community for 191 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: their support. We are in as a short term measure, 192 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 2: we have increased our presence in the city. We have 193 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 2: increased our presence and those in terms of the hours 194 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 2: we cover and we are working with agencies, other government 195 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 2: agencies to address the underlying issues to prevent this sort 196 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 2: of ongoing source of issues impacting community safety. Yeah. 197 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: Well, Commander for the Catherine Region, Terry Zang, I know 198 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: there is a lot of work happening for our Northern 199 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: Territory Police. I have no doubt the people of Catherine 200 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: appreciate that work as well. Thank you. I know you're 201 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,599 Speaker 1: incredibly busy, so thank you for joining us on the 202 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: show this morning and speaking to you know, everybody in 203 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: the territory, but particularly those residents in Catherine and just 204 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: keeping them up to date with exactly what work the 205 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: Territory Police are doing. 206 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie. You have a great day you too. 207 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: Thank you.