An Australian outback town could be on the brink of another lockdown to combat a growing crime epidemic after four off-duty police officers were allegedly attacked.
The Northern Territory Police Commissioner is considering introducing a sudden curfew in crime-ravaged Alice Springs following an alleged assault on Sunday.
A constable and three female officers were allegedly assaulted by a gang of 20 youths on the Todd River footbridge in the Red Centre, near the Stott Terrace Bridge, at about 2.15am on Sunday.
The off-duty officers were heading back to their hotel when the youths approached them from behind and allegedly proceeded to assault them.
One officer was allegedly thrown to the ground and had her purse stolen, another officer was punched in the face and kicked multiple times and had her cell phone taken from her.
The officer was also reportedly punched and kicked several times.
The group then left the area while our off-duty officers returned to their accommodation where they contacted the police.
Two of the female officers were taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The Northern Territory Police Commissioner is considering introducing another snap curfew in Alice Springs following the alleged assault of four off-duty officers on Sunday (file image)
The shocking incident came after Chief Minister Eva Lawler introduced new legislation in May giving the police commissioner the power to impose sudden 72-hour lockdowns. Pictured is an earlier incident in Alice Springs
Northern Territory Police Minister Brent Potter condemned the attack and confirmed that Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy could introduce a 72-hour lockdown to restore order.
Mr Potter said the incident was “criminal” and “predatory in nature” and that all four victims “turned out” to be police officers.
He said Commissioner Murphy is considering all options and a decision will be made on Monday.
“I can tell you that he is considering a curfew right now,” Potter said.
Mr Potter said it had been “72 hours of terror” in Alice Springs, after an alleged stabbing in the CBD and a police officer was knocked down outside a drinks shop.
Sunday’s shocking incident comes after First Minister Eva Lawler introduced new legislation in May giving the Police Commissioner the power to impose 72-hour snap lockdowns.
A three-week night-time curfew was imposed in April, banning young people from Alice Spring’s CBD shopping centre between 6pm and 6am.
A 14-day curfew was imposed on youth in Alice Springs in late March after 150 people allegedly rioted in the streets.
A three-week night-time curfew was imposed in April banning young people from the Alice Springs shopping centre between 6pm and 6am. Pictured is an earlier incident at Todd Tavern
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said in April that he had seen a marked decrease in crime around the city centre following the introduction of the curfew.
“We did see some robberies in the suburbs and in some commercial premises, but not on the same scale as we had seen before the curfew,” Murphy said.
‘The response from police officers and additional support providers has been overwhelmingly positive.’
Northern Territory Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident on Sunday morning to contact Crime Stoppers.