1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: What police say they've identified the ring leaders in a 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: youth crime spree in Alice Springs. It comes as part 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: of Operation Viper, in an attempt to crack down on 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: youth crime in the town. So far, more than one 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: hundred arrests have been made as part of the operation. 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: To talk more about it is our man on the ground, 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: Darren Clark from local business Wicked Needs Darren Morning. Yeah, well, Darren, hey, 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: Operation Viper. I believe it's probably been in town for 9 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: a couple of months now. The big question is is 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: it making a difference in the town. 11 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 2: Well, initially they were having a fair crack and quite 12 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 2: right down. I think the last one that I was 13 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: on the show, I said it quiet down specifically, But 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: the last couple of weeks Yeah. 15 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean just a few minutes ago I was 16 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: reporting on an incident where there was a man bashed 17 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: with a scooter. Do much on that at all? 18 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, So that side, there's a there's interest in try 19 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: to pick the bar and Coad Street, which is a 20 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 2: very bad area in town at the moment. Yeah, there's 21 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: incident there with a knife on Friday night and then 22 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 2: on Saturday night the guy's been hitting around the back 23 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 2: of their head with a scooter and hit the ground 24 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: and then he's been kicked in the head. Now that's one. 25 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: That's one instance. And we had a young fellow walking 26 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: along barreck dry from the casinos who's set upon by 27 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: ten ten yudes, dragged in the river, bashed rob We've 28 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 2: had another two guys outside the casino they've been attacked 29 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 2: by another mob for ten or fifteen kids. Now allegedly 30 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: there's another one of someone a mail out of a 31 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: hotel was also attacked and injured. I haven't haven't got 32 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: hold of that story of fool yet, but yeah, look 33 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: at it. Town's not safe, mate, It's just not safe. 34 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: It's on edge. Are people are scared, People are worried. 35 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: We're back to where we were. Kate Warden, whoever. They 36 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 2: can say whatever they want. Things aren't working, things aren't working. 37 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: They can come out with these programs, they can say 38 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: whatever they want. They can create a hub. The hub 39 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 2: hasn't worked. Now we know that. So you know, the 40 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 2: first thing is the sign of insanity made. The definition 41 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 2: of sanity is doing the same super thing over and 42 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: over again for the same stupid results. And that's what 43 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: we're getting all the time it is insanity. 44 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: Then, Darren, you mentioned territory Families. Minister Kate Warden, I 45 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: know she took a visit down to Alice Springs last 46 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: week along with the Chief Minister and I believe the 47 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: Police Minister as well. Following that trip, she spoke with 48 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: Katie Wolf. I want to play you a little bit 49 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 1: of that audio for you now. 50 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: I just find it strange that that you, the Police 51 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 2: Minister and the Chief Minister were there and didn't sort 52 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 2: of think maybe we should have a bit of a 53 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: meeting with members of the public to see how they 54 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 2: are feeling. 55 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 3: Well. I think indirectly, Katie, we are catching up with people. 56 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 3: The people out of the multicultural community that I met with, 57 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 3: the people out of the sporting groups that I met with, 58 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 3: They're all people that live every day in other Springs, 59 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 3: and they certainly didn't raise it directly with me. Well, 60 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 3: I think things have really calmed down in Other Springs 61 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: and I think VIBA has done an amazing job down there. 62 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: Darren, what would be your response to that. 63 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm nearly laughing, mate, I'm rolling on the ground here. 64 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 2: Go to any barbecue, go to any gathering, go anywhere, 65 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 2: go to a cafe, go into a bakery, go into 66 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: a work site, go whereever you want. For this point 67 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: of time, that is all anyone is talking about. Forget 68 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 2: about forget about estimate glass words, and people go on 69 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: a eighty four million or overspending chrity, generation of pair 70 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 2: and water on what. We don't care? No one cares 71 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: because we're are the face. The places are boiling for mate, 72 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: and it's well, keep saying it and saying it, but 73 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 2: how many more people have to die? We've had a 74 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 2: death here and it's rutually, it's virtually being disregarded and ignored, 75 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: and it really has and it's disrespectful to that blokes 76 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 2: family and to the person that loss has shown, that 77 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 2: lost his life. We're that close to having another one. 78 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: You get whacked around the back of the head with 79 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: a scooter and then kicked in the head where on 80 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: the ground. How you're still alive? Well that's only lucky. 81 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 2: So so how far does this have to go? You know? 82 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: Every time every time the Chief Minister comes down here, 83 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: they clean the place up, They go through the streets, 84 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: they clean the streets, they get everyone away. It's like 85 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: it's like a different town. And you know, he's coming 86 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: because what it's got to change, mate, and as the 87 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 2: cover up's got to stop. So Viper Viper the original 88 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: Viper guys. From from what I'm hearing, they've gone back 89 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: to Darwin. So we've just got Alex Springs place now 90 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 2: with a Viper badge on, right, So there's a lot 91 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: of a lot of blood, of smoke and mirrors be 92 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 2: employed at the moment. 93 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: We'll follow that up with the police minister, because yeah, 94 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: we were of the understanding that that was going to 95 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: be a permanent fixture in Alice Springs. Operation Viper. 96 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: So what Viper is? Yeah, Viper is So they're not 97 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: lying there, but the makeup of Viper, Wow, the makeup 98 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 2: of vipra asked, are about the makeup of Viper? So 99 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: IM's fully supportive of the police and everyone down here. 100 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 2: We know the police are doing an amazing job under 101 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 2: trying circumstances. But don't let the politicians play politicians of 102 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 2: this because this is this is totally totally out of hand. 103 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 2: We've got an opposition that aren't they're not. They have 104 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: a little bit of a song and dance here and there, 105 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 2: but then they go quiet again. I mean, I will 106 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: go to estimates with Chai and expose the government on 107 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: the economic side of things. No one gives a flying 108 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 2: damn about the economy in Alice Springs. At the moment. 109 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: We are worried about public safety. We're worried about the elderly. 110 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 2: We're worried about kids. You know, they go out to 111 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: their forms, they go for a futurns to the bar, 112 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: and they're getting attacked. Darren. 113 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: I often think if I was in your position, or 114 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: anyone else in the town right now, I'd go, this 115 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: is too hard. I'm packing up shop and leaving. What 116 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: keeps you in town, mate? 117 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 2: Oh? The people. The people. We've got a great community 118 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: spirit down here. But the more and more you talk 119 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 2: to people around here long I know about four or 120 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 2: five people that I spoke on the weekend. Three of 121 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: them are definitely they're going So how long people can 122 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 2: hang in for it, I don't know. But you know, 123 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: these kids, these kids need some bloody helpmates. Ye, And 124 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: I'll keep saying it. We've got a very very complex problem. 125 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 2: But whatever they do doesn't fix it. So we have 126 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 2: to go to the root and the cause and treat 127 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: that instead of just throwing money and open a harb 128 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: and making it all nice and the kids go and 129 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: get their hair braided and they play a bit of 130 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: table tennis and card games. Stop that these kids aren't 131 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: getting brought up properly. Yeah, they're not getting brought up properly. 132 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 2: They're not in safe homes, or they're not being taught 133 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 2: the family unit properly. So let's go right back to 134 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: the core of the problem and let's fix that. Because 135 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 2: if you don't fix that, this is going to go 136 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 2: on forever. Yeah, this is gonna and we're gonna lose generations, 137 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 2: generations of great kids that are going to just end 138 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 2: up being straight criminals and that's all they'll be. And 139 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: that's that's not what anyone wants. The people of our springs, 140 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 2: they're fed up, but they don't hate these kids. They 141 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 2: don't hate them. We want to be able to help them. 142 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 2: The trouble is, these all these little bullshit programs all 143 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: the time. If they don't work, the hub doesn't work 144 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 2: because they come back out on the streets. Stop throwing money, 145 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 2: bad money after that, because it's just not working. Someone 146 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: for crying out loud to Kay Warden, if you're listening, 147 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: how about you think outside the square and how about 148 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: you have the courage to do something different because this 149 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 2: isn't working. It isn't working, Darren. 150 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: I would love to keep chatting to you, mate. This 151 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: is an incredibly powerful conversation and obviously one that needs 152 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: to be had. I do have another a few more 153 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: interviews coming up, mate. I can hear the passion in 154 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: your voice and deare it's just so sad that we 155 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: keep having this same conversation. But I mean, good on 156 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: you for sticking in there. Mate. If we don't get 157 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: a chance to chat beforehand, I almost feel bad saying have 158 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: a good Christmas. But look, mate, I know that. Yeah, 159 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: like you said, there are plenty of other good people 160 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: in the town there. I hope you guys rally together. 161 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: Do hope you have a good Christmas. Mate. Thank you 162 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: so much for you know, being our correspondent and our 163 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: man on the ground this year. And yeah, look, let's 164 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: let's hope we can touch base in twenty twenty one 165 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: under better circumstances. 166 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's hope we do, mate, And you have a 167 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 2: great Christmas, Mate, and everyone up there, and Darlen you 168 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: stay safe. And we think the people are doing for 169 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 2: the support they do give us the time. So I 170 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 2: know you've got your own problems up there, but we're 171 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 2: doing an hard down here lot. You would not for lose, mate. 172 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, good on your Darren. Thanks for taking the time 173 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: to chat to us. 174 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 2: Okay, buddy, catch mate. 175 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: Well there you go. That was Darren Clark and Alice 176 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: Springs and Wow, some powerful words and some powerful radio 177 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: there