'Safety division' cops brought in to Alice Springs to tackle crime wave as new ... trends now
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Real estate data indicates Alice Springs locals are leaving the crime wave-hit town in droves with the NT government taking the unusual step of deploying a crack new police force to maintain order.
The Alice Springs Territory Safety Division (TSD) will soon be a fixture of the Northern Territory's second biggest city, the government announced this week.
Eighteen officers will be brought into the unit and tasked with providing rapid response to public disorder situations.
The announcement coincides with data from Realestate.com which shows there are 284 vacant properties listed for the town of 25,000 people - more than double what would be considered a 'strong market'.
'This is a very high number,' Real Estate Institute NT's Lindsay Carey told Alice Springs News.
NT Police Minister Brent Potter said that the Red Centre's new police force will focus on anti-social behaviour as the government attempts to curb common crime and entice resident to remain.
A new permanent elite police force will be established in Alice Springs to help tame the areas crime wave (pictured, crime in Alice Springs)
Police Minister Brent Potter (right) said this week the Red Centre's new police force will focus on anti-social behaviour as the government attempts to curb common crime
This new unit adds to the 52 elite police already operating out of Darwin, bringing the total number of
