The Northern Territory government is considering enacting a curfew in Mparntwe/Alice Springs for the second time this year, after four off-duty police officers were allegedly assaulted on Sunday morning.
On Sunday, Police Minister Brent Potter said it had been a "horror 72 hours" in the town, with the alleged assault of the officers taking place after another officer was run over outside a bottleshop and a member of the public allegedly stabbed in the CBD.
The incident on Sunday occurred at around 2:15 am, when four off-duty police officers – three females and a male - were walking along the Todd River walkway on their way to a hotel.
"The four were approached from behind by a group of about 20 male youths who proceeded to assault them," a NT police statement said.
"One female was pulled to the ground and had her bag stolen, another female was punched in the face and kicked multiple times and had her mobile phone taken while the male was also punched and kicked multiple times.
"The group of 20 males then left the area with the four victims returning to their accommodation where they have called police."
Mr Potter said Police Commissioner Michael Murphy was in the Red Centre and labelled the incident unacceptable and "predatory in nature".
"[Commissioner Murphy] is looking at every option, I can tell you right now he is looking at the curfew," Mr Potter said, as reported by the ABC.
"He'll make that decision, that's up to him."
In May, the NT government introduced new legislation to enable the easier implementation of curfews, describing it as a "common sense plan to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour".
The government said the new laws will be administered by the police, who recently received record funding in the NT budget, and any extension will need to be signed off by the Police Minister.
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) criticised the legislation, saying it put an "extreme concentration of power" into the hands of the police commissioner, who they argued is "not required to rely on any information or input from experts".
It came on the back of the three week youth curfew in Mparntwe/Alice Springs in March, enacted in wake of violence across the town, but the legality of which was questioned by the NT police union.
A decision is expected to be announced on Monday.
