Surely there's got to be a better way.
Break the cycle somehow.
On another forum I watched some CCTV footage from a servo in Darwin, young people are simply walking in and stealing things from the shelves and walking out with them.
Smaller stores within the main shopping centre keep their front doors locked and customers have to knock to be admitted.
When asked why no police action the shopkeepers say the Police can do nothing as the judges simply release them back to their parents.
All this is bad now BUT to me the tragedy is what does this do for the future, if we allow this to continue in 5 years time all these out of control kids are adults.
It will become total anarchy unless someone enforces laws of some sort, if not general law and order then perhaps we enforce tribal law.
Traditional aboriginal lifestyles have just as any laws as our society, the main difference being physical punishment rather than prison.
Examples: You could not steal things, you could not beat your wife, you could not neglect the welfare of your children, you had to work to stay in the tribe, these are just some laws.
Maybe that is what needs to happen, get the Elders involved with Aboriginal Police to form some sort of patrol.
They are needed in all towns and cities across the Top End to curb anti social behaviour now and to give guidance and support for the next generation.
It cannot be done from Canberra it must be hands on locals with supervised funding for patrol vehicles and wages.