More than 300 people were spoken to by police during a four-day special operation targeting anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs,

Operation Doushen -Part 3 - was held over four days from Thursday to Sunday last week.

During the operation members of the Property Crime Reduction Unit assisted by General Duties members issued nine trespass notices, six loitering notices, three infringement notices and five cautions, as well as making five arrests and taking 18 juveniles home.

They also took 15 drunks into protective custody, and altogether spoke to more than 300 people.

Detective Senior Sergeant Lauren Hill said the purpose of the operation was to deter anti-social behaviour and target property offenders.

"During the four-day operation police targeted known property offenders and groups of juveniles wandering the town late at night," Det Sen Sgt Hill said.

"This operation was the most recent in an ongoing series of special operations targeting young people involved in anti-social behaviour and property crime.

"With the recent spike in anti-social behaviour in the Gap Road area with tourists being assaulted by groups of juveniles police actively targeted those areas in and around the CBD as well as other targeted hot spots.

"The mobile police station was also used as a high-profile deterrent to anti-social behaviour of young people in the Larapinta area, which has been an increasing problem recently.

"We will continue targeting these groups of young people until they get the message that members of the community have a right to feel safe in their own town. One of the best results achieved during the operation was the arrest of a 14-year-old boy who allegedly bashed a tourist with a hockey stick on Saturday morning.

"The public has a right to feel confident that police are investing enough resources into deterring such behaviour and arresting offenders when and if such incidents occur."

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Theresa Kuilboer
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