Community
Night Patrol

The East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) plays a crucial role in coordinating and providing Community Night Patrol Services across all nine communities in the East Arnhem region. With a team of 43 employees, EARC works in collaboration with various organisations such as the NT Department of Health (DoH), Gove District Hospital, Community Clinics, Sobering Up Shelters (SUS), and Patrollers.

The aim is to offer culturally appropriate assistance to Indigenous individuals who are at risk of causing harm or being harmed. This includes supporting intoxicated individuals, those under the influence of substances, young people, victims of violence, and the homeless.

The primary focus of the Community Night Patrol Service is community safety. EARC strives to ensure that all community members have the right to feel safe in their own environment. Through community patrolling and safe transportation, EARC helps communities take responsibility for preventing anti-social, harmful, destructive, and illegal behaviour.

The Community Night Patrol Teams engage in various activities, such as:

• Relocating individuals to safe environments like a relative's home, recognised safe houses, women's refuges, sobering-up shelters, or medical facilities.
• Defusing violent situations, whenever it is safe to intervene.
• Redirecting intoxicated individuals away from involvement with the criminal justice system.
• Providing advice, information, or referrals, including counselling services.

It's worth mentioning that the Community Night Patrol Services are proudly funded by the Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.