MARTU PATROL ‘AN ANSWER’ NEWMAN YOUTH CRIME

Around 200 locals gathered in Newman this week to talk about the growing concern of youth crime in town. There was unease about the meeting being targeted towards indigenous individuals but Senior Sergeant Ray Anderson said it was a positive meeting and gave frustrated victims a voice.

“So many indigenous people were speaking about some of the causes of crime which I think informed the meeting that it's probably not a quick fix type of situation and then that led into maybe a little bit of potential problem solving as we'll,” he said.

‘The meeting gave people an opportunity to explain some of the programs that are already in place that probably aren't widely known to the general public.

The most recent thing was the Martu Patrol, which was, I guess, discussed publicly for the first time which is imminent in its implication whether that's going to be this week or next week.”

The Martu Patrol will be community-driven and lead by Martu people and Mr Anderson said its not a police initiative but they are there to support the project.

“The Martu people will be going out on the street at night time looking for the vulnerable kids that are out there and we know that there are vulnerable kids on the street and hopefully being able to engage with them and then find a safe place for them to go.”

“If the home isn't the safest place for them to be and because it's a Martu Community initiative, they as a community themselves will know who the kids are and where is a good place to take them.”