Doubts raised over Alice Springs youth curfew plan

A former Alice Springs alderman says a Country Liberal Party (CLP) proposed youth curfew will not stop antisocial behaviour in the town.

The CLP says it will introduce the night curfew if it wins the Northern Territory election.

Under the CLP's plan, police would have the power to decide who is subject to a curfew and for how long.

But Des Rogers, who resigned from Alice Springs Town Council last month, says some young people, especially those in town camps, have no option but to be on the streets.

"These kids are escaping sexual abuse, drunkenness and family violence back in their home locations," he said.

The CLP says it will also introduce juvenile diversion programs to give young people options.

However, Mr Rogers says the plan is short-sighted and fails to deal with the cause of the problem.

Mr Rogers says on some nights police in Alice Springs can pick up more than 100 youths.

He says many are from Alice Springs' town camps.

"Unfortunately because of the noise, the humbug, the drunkenness that occurs on a lot of town camps, these kids escape from that," he said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jun 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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