A plan to tackle surging crime rates in Alice Springs shows a lack of "fresh thinking", according to a sceptic, as others welcome it with cautious optimism.
Police Minister Kate Worden on Wednesday announced a Social Order Response Team (SORT) would see government, business and community unite to address antisocial behaviour.
Measures include boosting community patrols and outreach services for illegal campers, and driving a collaborative response to youth on the streets.
The plan will also target public drinking and improve lighting and CCTV throughout the outback town.
Ms Worden said she was hopeful the next round of crime statistics would reveal downward trends in crime.
"This is about making everyone work together and be accountable in their own space," she said.
More resources required
But Blair McFarland from the Central Australian Youth Link Up Service told ABC Alice Springs there was "nothing new" in the plan.
"It's a bureaucrats' dream that suddenly you can do more with the same resources and the same plans," he said.
"But it's not the case.
"There's no fresh thinking in there at all."
Hopes plan will have impact
The SORT was announced as crime rates continued to climb in Alice Springs.
Tourism Central Australia (TCA) recently made a desperate plea for the government to do more to address the "crime crisis", claiming the government had lost control of the streets of Alice Springs.
But after sitting in on the group's inaugural meeting, TCA chief executive Danial Rochford said he was quietly hopeful it would have an impact.
"The government has made sure that this committee reports to cabinet on a monthly basis with clear KPIs [key performance indicators]," he said.
"There is an expectation there will be action.
"We've been crying out for it for a long time, because we're getting to the stage when enough is enough."
Calls for a curfew
The SORT includes senior representatives from Alice Springs Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Lhere Artepe, Tourism Central Australia and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Senior government officials from NT Police, Territory Families and the Department of the Chief Minister are also involved.
The group will be led by Alice Springs Town Council Mayor Matt Paterson, who has been among those calling for a curfew to be enforced across the outback town where children as young as eight roam the streets at night.
Several measures flagged in plan
There have also been calls for children to be taken to special accommodation if their home is not a safe option.
While Ms Worden said the team was exploring ways to keep young people off the streets, she emphasised children could not be forced into accommodation.
"You can't detain a young person against their will unless they've committed a crime," she said.
She added that a curfew would only turn police into a "taxi service".
The plan also flagged plans to pilot "vehicle lockdowns" in the CBD, turning it into a pedestrian area with only taxis permitted.
"But there is some disagreement on that," Ms Worden said.
Increased foot patrols have also been promised as part of the plan, but business owners in the CBD say they are yet to see these materialise.
"I have formally put that through police channels," Ms Worden said.
"I have been assured that there will be, and has been, increased foot patrols."
