Labor's remote communities envoy says an urgent youth curfew is required in the Northern Territory town of Katherine after locals expressed frustration at the crime rate.

Last week, the ABC reported community members in the town — three hours south of Darwin — had gathered to voice their concerns about a perceived increase in youth crime. These focused on what residents argued was a lack of action on youth crime, with the local council asking the NT Government for help.

On Monday, citing the precedent twice set in Alice Springs/Mparntwe in 2024, which she argued had its "desired impact", Federal MP for Lingiari and Special Envoy for Remote Communities Marion Scrymgour called on NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and the Police Commissioner to "declare a curfew in Katherine to give the community the support and respite it deserves".

"I support calls from the community and Katherine Town Council for the Northern Territory Government to urgently intervene and stop the spike in youth crime that is having a devastating effect on the town and its residents," she said.

"I am concerned by recent media reports which suggest the best course for police to respond to this crime is to have more police resources."

Under NT law, police can implement a 72-hour curfew when the Commissioner believes there is public disorder, or a significant risk of it. The curfew can be extended for up to seven days by the Chief Minister.

Anyone can be asked to leave an area, and non-compliance can lead to a maximum $1,480 fine.

Last week's town gathering came after an incident on Thursday, in which a group of young people were allegedly seen driving "dangerously" in a stolen black Volkswagen hatchback "on multiple occasions" throughout the day. Witnesses reported seeing "several youths hanging from the windows while the vehicle was in motion".

The vehicle crashed on Stutterd Street at around 9 pm, where "approximately seven youths exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot," NT Police said.

A 13-year-old boy has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle, theft and driving in a dangerous manner, while a 15-year-old was charged with riding in a stolen motor vehicle and breach of bail.

Both were remanded in custody and will face court at a later date.

NT Police said the incident "rightly" attracts "community attention". However, they argued it "also reinforce[s] the importance of the broader work being undertaken by police, families, schools, service providers and partner agencies to address the causes of youth offending and reduce reoffending".

Police also chose not to pursue the car to "prioritise public safety". "Rather than escalating the situation through a pursuit, they focused on gathering evidence, identifying those involved and progressing the investigation," a spokesperson said.

In a letter to the Chief Minister on Saturday, Mayor Joanna Holden was critical of the decision.

"What is particularly concerning is that, despite the length and very public nature of the incident, there was no apparent police intervention and no warning to residents about the potential danger," she said.

"The warnings that did come were from residents posting videos of the hooning on social media to alert the community. There may have been operational circumstances at play, but so far there has been no public explanation. People in Katherine are asking how something like this could continue for hours without a response. They are frightened, frustrated and increasingly angry."

Residents' concerns not just "isolated incidents"

In June, a 16-year-old boy died, and five teenagers found at the crash site — the youngest only 13 — were taken to hospital, after an allegedly stolen vehicle rolled on the Stuart Highway. A 16-year-old boy was charged with driving a motor vehicle causing death, careless driving causing death, and five counts of recklessly endangering life.

On Monday, Ms Scrymgour said she was "disturbed to hear the many harrowing stories of people feeling increasingly vulnerable", arguing they couldn't be dismissed as "isolated incidents".

"The safety and wellbeing of people living in Katherine is a top priority," she said. "Katherine is a proud and resilient community, but too many residents are saying they no longer feel safe in their homes, on the streets or going about their daily lives."

Overall, crime rates in Katherine for the 12 months to May are down, including for property crime and crimes against the person, except for vehicle theft, which is up 21 per cent over the 12 months.

However, Mayor Holden argued, "Whatever the statistics may show, that is not how many people in Katherine are experiencing their town at the moment".

"There is a growing gap between what government processes and statistics are telling us and what people are seeing and experiencing," she said. "That gap is damaging confidence and creating real anger in our community."

Can't accept the status quo

In the letter to Ms Finocchiaro, the mayor, on behalf of the Katherine Town Council, called for her to consider a community safety roundtable and, if not, "please tell us what alternative you propose".

"We know there is no simple answer to youth crime. We know Police and other agencies are dealing with difficult and complex circumstances. But complexity cannot mean accepting the status quo," it read.

"How can the Katherine community meaningfully participate in finding solutions? How can residents, First Nations leaders, businesses and community organisations put forward recommendations, have them properly considered by the people who can make decisions, and see action come from them?"

They argued the council is trying to "develop practical responses", with "First Nations leaders and community organisations...willing to be part of the solution".

"We need the Territory Government at the table with us before our two greatest fears are realised — that an utter tragedy will occur in our town, and that vigilante residents will take matters into their own hands."

Previous curfew response mixed

The Alice Springs/Mparntwe curfews were welcomed by many residents after a series of violent incidents, but criticised by others as a blunt option which failed to address the root causes of offending.

Ms Scrymgour, who now lives in the town, said: "While some crime may have been pushed to the outer suburbs, the curfews successfully acted within the designated zones to provide a much-needed short-term circuit breaker, restoring immediate safety to the town and reducing street-level anxiety."

"The curfews effectively stopped the street altercations, dangerous driving, property damage and break-ins within Alice Springs, with many businesses, leaders and residents saying the streets had become significantly quieter," she added.

At the time, SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle said curfews were "nonsensical to most people, because there's no evidence that they work," before adding long-term thinking was needed, rather than a quick fix.