Safety Strategy & Action Plan
In 2002, members of the Tennant Creek community identified the issues of anti-social behaviour as an area they were concerned about.
As a result Tennant Creek Town Council and the Yapakurlangu Regional Council resolved to develop a community safety strategy and action plan.
With the support of the Office of Crime Prevention consultants were engaged to investigate the fore-mentioned issues, this being done through comprehensive community consultations.
Under the guidance of the Tennant Creek Youth Initiatives and Safe Communities Strategy Management Committee, (now known as the Barkly Region Safer Communities Committee) the Barkly Community Safety Strategy and Action Plan was developed.
This process included holding community forums as well as review of statistical material related to anti social behaviour in the region. The major issues raised in these discussions which social behaviour in the region.
The major issues raised in these discussions which were identified to be addressed are:
- Break and enters
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Vehicle interfearance
- Drugs
- Gambling
- Antisocial behaviour
- Children out at night
- Llack of parental supervision
- Boredom
- Poor education
- Lack of employment
- Minimal recreational opportunities.
The major aim of the study by the consultants was the development, of a "Community Safety Strategy and Action Plan" that increases the safety and security of community members in the work, home and social environments.
The Plan is a response to identified public concern about crime and anti social behaviour in the Barkly region. The plan aims to create a community that feels safe and is safe for everyone.
The youth of the region played an active role in instigating and directing the process and provided input into the framework of the mechanisms required to produce the plan.
This action plan identifies ten strategic programme areas, which make up the Tennant Creek Community Safety Action Task Plan.
The areas identified are:
- Making places safer and friendly;
- Promoting acceptable social behaviour in the community;
- Understanding and accepting peoples differences and qualities;
- Building better communities and providing opportunities for leadership and empowerment;
- Working together to create safer communities and beating safety problems;
- Coordinate the implimentation of Aboriginal culture laws and recognising the Northern Territory Police's role in keeping us safe;
- Providing opportunities for young people to live, grow and contribute to a safer community;
- Providing essential services;
- Celebrating culture and heritage to engender a society that values safe and acceptable behaviours;
- Communicating our efforts amongst government and to the community.
Additional priorities include:
- The development of a coordinated plan to redesign and enhance the main street of Tennant Creek which encourages local ownership, promotes tourism and support for local business;
- Continuing consultation with Aboriginal people on ways to reduce fighting and harassment caused through the influence of alcohol and other substances;
- Development of strategies to reduce the use of weapons in physical attacks, and
- On going consultations with Aboriginal communities and NT Police to identify appropriate Aboriginal cultural laws that could assist in reducing crime and support restorative justice programs and the NT Police Community Safety Strategy.