The Territory Labor Government is breaking the cycle of crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs through a comprehensive plan, which includes the commencement of seven Youth Engagement Night Officers (YENOs).

YENOs are specialist youth workers assigned to work with at-risk young people up to the age of 17, who are unsupervised in public places in Alice Springs and engaging in anti-social behaviour.   

YENOs will form part of the Territory Families Youth Outreach and Re-engagement Team (YORET) and will operate seven days a week from 8pm-3am.   

YENOs will support NT Police, Territory Families, Talice Security, and non-government youth services. They will address anti-social behaviour, put at-risk young people back on track and make referrals for ongoing support, programs and services.

Establishment of the YENOs is part of the Territory Labor Government’s Breaking the Cycle plan to tackle youth crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs.

Other initiatives include:

• More mobile CCTV cameras in anti-social behaviour hot spots (Already in effect)
• Two School Engagement Officers to work with young people who have been identified as being disengaged from schooling. These officers have been appointed. (Already in effect)
• Three School Compliance Officers to work with young people when attempts to increase school attendance has not been successful. (Already in effect)
• Expand the youth drop-in centres at Gap Youth and Community Centre and Tangentyere Council Brown Street to operate seven days a week (currently both operate five days) and extend their bus service. (Already in effect)
• Expand the hours of the Tangentyere Night Patrol to get young people off the streets. Patrol vehicles will run seven days a week from 6pm-3am. (Already in effect)
• Create an Aboriginal-led Youth Outreach Service. A team of respected Aboriginal outreach workers will provide advice and support to youth engagement officers and mentor Aboriginal young people, drawing on the cultural authority of the Tangentyere Council Men’s Four Corners Group and Tangentyere Women’s Family Safety Group. (In effect 1 July)

Quotes from Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield

“The Territory Labor Government is listening to Centralians who have had enough of crime, youth crime, and anti-social behaviour. The Breaking the Cycle plan gives us a better chance of breaking the cycle of crime and keeps Alice Springs safer.

“YENOs have the same statutory responsibilities as Youth Outreach and Reengagement Officers (YOREO), but they will be rostered on late night hours and will have a greater focus on identifying and addressing anti-social behaviour.

“YENOs are specialist youth workers and will provide brief interventions to ensure that at-risk young people get the support services that they need to address risky behaviour and get back on the right track.

“This is in stark contrast to the chaotic CLP government who cut vital youth services in Alice Springs. They failed to implement any plan to fix alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour on our streets.”

Media contact

Paige Nguyen
M: 0428 727 244
Paige.nguyen@nt.gov.au