New night patrols for Aboriginal communities
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An Aboriginal night patrol (Sarah Hawke)
Night patrols aimed at preventing unrest and disturbances are being rolled out across Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
About 50 new patrols are being set up under the federal intervention, with nearly $18 million to be spent this financial year.
Night Patrol co-ordinator for the Victoria Daly Shire Katie Young says locals will be employed to move people on before trouble starts.
"Basically we'd like just to divert our countrymen away from the judicial system, keep them out of trouble, out of the cells and having family and countrymen working within the vehicle and the environment is a lot easier, they're not in trouble, we're there to negotiate prior to police attending", she said.
Eight new patrol vehicles are being rolled out in the Victoria Daly Shire, two have just arrived in Wadeye, south west of Darwin which has suffered a recent spike in unrest.
The Wadeye patrol will start some time in the new year.
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