Darwin businesses call for return of late-night security patrols amid violence, anti

The NT government is being urged to reinstate late-night security patrols in Darwin CBD, as businesses report an increase in the frequency of violence and anti-social behaviour.

Territory Protective Services (TPS) has been providing private security patrols in Darwin City since 2019, but in June the NT government slashed their patrol hours after a funding change.

The service now stops at 8pm on weeknights.

Patrols now finish at 7pm on Saturdays while, on Sundays, shifts run just four hours — from 10am to 2pm.

Todd Grierson, general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn hotels on the Esplanade, said both businesses felt the impact of reduced hours immediately.

"It took about a day,"

he said.

Mr Grierson said uninvited visitors — often fuelled by alcohol — were now