Extra Police Need For Alice Springs is Critical

The Minister for Central Australia, Rob Knight, is the first Government Minister to publicly acknowledge the extent of the law and order problems engulfing Alice Springs.

When questioned about how may extra police are needed in Alice Springs on 8HA by Territory Today host, Adrian Renzi, the Minister replied : '… the feedback I'm getting we probably need the whole 60 here' .

"This is the first time a Minister of the Henderson Government has admitted we need a substantial increase in police numbers in Alice Springs,” says Jodeen Carney, Shadow Minister for Justice.

"The Chief Minister should listen to what the Minister for Central Australia has to say.

Minister Knight went on to state: 'but look I think that we'll get a decent amount down here' and claimed he would be fighting to ensure that happened.

"Anything less than 20 additional police in Alice Springs would indicate the Minister for Central Australia carries almost no weight in Cabinet,” says Ms Carney.

"The Minister has set the bar for additional police numbers in Alice Springs and I hope the Chief Minister reaches it.

"The surging crime rates and public drinking in our 'dry town' clearly demonstrates that more police are needed.

"Until now the Henderson Government has had little more than words for the people of Alice Springs.

"Talk from Governments is particularly cheap.

"Now that the Government is planning to increase police resources it's critical that Alice Springs gets its fair share – at least 20 additional officers.”

2008-04-17