Operation Shiloh finished up on Sunday after a final two day blitz on traffic and anti-social behaviour around the Alice Springs town site on Friday and Saturday nights.
Disappointingly for Police the number of drink drivers apprehended was again a major worry with eleven out of the two hundred and four people tested returning a positive reading.
Superintendent Matt Hollamby said drivers were risking their lives and the lives of innocent road users and this close to Christmas the number was unacceptable to Police and the wider community.
“Christmas should be a time to enjoy being with family, the fact that these drivers can have such little regard for others is staggering. Who would wish serious injury or worse on a family this time of year?”
Of the eight hundred and twenty nine drivers tested throughout the operation thirty one were found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit, eight of those were recorded with high range levels. Also unacceptable was the number of unlicensed or suspended drivers.
Eighty six traffic infringement notices were also issued for poor or unsafe driving practices and for having defective vehicles.
Anti-social behaviour was another target for Shiloh officers with two hundred and four people taken in to protective custody and one thousand four hundred and eighty litres of alcohol destroyed after being found in restricted areas.
Fifty five people were arrested on outstanding warrants and a further forty three were arrested for various offences during the operation. Thirty others were issued with summons to appear and forty two were issued infringement notices.
The disruption of the drug supply was a priority for the Police and six search warrants were executed resulting in the seizure of one thousand five hundred and seventy two grams of cannabis. Intelligence received during the raids resulted in further arrests in South Australia and a significant amount of cash seized under the proceeds of crime act.
Operation Shiloh was a mobile operation that supplemented the work being done by local Police in Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. Traffic operations were also conducted between the towns.
The comprehensive operation responded to intelligence supplied by regional Police and Superintendent Hollamby said working with the local Police was a co operative effort.
“Intensive policing operations of this type are designed to help Police keep their communities safe and the results speak for themselves. There are also consequential benefits including reduced crime rates and reduced hospital admissions but it can place a strain on the justice system.”
“Shiloh was the first operation of its kind and results suggest that it was a worthy initiative. I hope we can deliver this service to towns up and down the track again and perhaps include some remote communities. It was a proud time for me leading such a dedicated team who were determined to assist their fellow officers have a Merry Christmas.”
