Alice Springs mayor calls for urgent action to address ongoing crime crisis

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson has urged governments to take immediate action to address the community’s escalating crime rate. In a desperate bid to quell the ongoing turmoil, Mr Paterson said he is open to any solution that can provide relief to the community. He pointed to a previous instance where the government brought in 20 police officers from South Australia during a curfew, suggesting that a similar approach could be effective again. “Whether it’s bringing in AFP officers, I think leadership is about acknowledging sometimes when you need help, and if we don’t have enough police, then you need to ask other jurisdictions for help,” Mr Paterson told Sky News Australia. Mr Paterson emphasised that the situation in Alice Springs is dire and urgent action is needed to support the local police force. “I’d urge governments of any persuasion to say, hey, we don’t have enough police officers here. Please help us out and just get us through the next few months,” he said.