NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner, Grahame Kelly will be 'tweeting' the weekend away on ntpolice Twitter for the Police blitz on drunken behaviour across the Territory.
Police Commissioners from across Australia and New Zealand collectively launched Operation Unite, a united stand against drunken violence last month.
This large scale, Australasian Operation is the first of its kind and highlights the widespread problem caused by alcohol in our community. It isn't unique to Darwin or Kings Cross, it is a problem shared across Australia and overseas.
A/Deputy Commissioner Kelly said this operation aims to raise awareness of the negative impacts irresponsible alcohol consumption, binge drinking and the 'drinking to get drunk culture' has on our society.
"Police including mounted police and dog operations will be out in force, highly visible throughout the Territory, on the streets, on the roads, in licensed premises, targeting drunken behaviour with the aim of keeping our towns safe.
"The full scale operation will be coordinated from a Police Operation Centre in the Darwin Police Station including the coordination and deployment of resources, recording of offences, general monitoring the weekends' activity including regular posts on Twitter.
"It officially commences at 9pm tonight and concludes at 5am on Sunday 13 December.
"For the first time, interested persons will be able to get the latest information on the overnight activities via Twitter which hopefully will be positive although week in-week out experience would predict otherwise."
"The community knows police are out in force, drivers know not to drink and drive. We want people to have fun but to have fun, you have to drink responsibly and make plans to get home safely.
"It is important people report any incidents of drunken, anti-social and violent behaviour to Police immediately so it can be addressed and resolved quickly." A/Deputy Commissioner Kelly concluded.
During 2008/09, NT Police responded to 1061 disturbances at licensed premises, the majority of which, 347 were in Darwin City. This does not include all the persons taken into protective custody from public places.
To follow ntpolice on twitter, log onto www.twitter.com/ntpolice, look for the bush hat so you know you are at the right sight. You don't have to have an account or be an existing ntpolice follower to receive tweets, anyone can log on and have a look at what's its all about.
Twitter is purely an information delivery system. If people receive tweets and have information to assist police in any particular matter, or if people witness incidents requiring police attention, it is essential that they call 131 444 or triple zero in an emergency so that information can be correctly processed and responded to.
Media contact:
Katie Fowden
0401 116 540
