About Connect & Protect - Alice Springs
‘Connect & Protect - Alice Springs’ provides residents with the ability to participate in an online crime prevention partnership, connecting with local Police to work together to ensure community safety.
The program is fully supported by the Northern Territory Police Force and Neighbourhood Watch NT.
‘Connect & Protect - Alice Springs’ utilises Facebook as the networking tool to facilitate this online partnership as opposed to traditionally coordinating a meeting to be held at the town hall for example.
By using Facebook, the community has:
- greater access,
- real time engagement as a group,
- seeks consensus to problem solving,
- provides accurate, up to date information,
- creates an ability to provide feedback,
- engages the community in crime prevention
The local community has a wealth of knowledge about their own environment. The community is therefore best placed to consider crime prevention, crime reduction and reducing the fear of crime.
How does Connect & Protect work?
Alice Springs Police will use Connect & Protect as an online medium to engage the community to participate in decision making about policing in the area.
Although Connect & Protect utilises Facebook, it is a closed group forum for those who apply to take part, meeting the requirements and agreeing to the terms and conditions of the partnership.
This is different from the Northern Territory Police Force facebook page whereby anybody can ‘like us’ for up to date information on Territory-wide policing activity.
NT Police recognise that the Connect & Protect online forum may discuss sensitive matters and gather intelligence and therefore all those signing up to participate do so after agreeing not to divulge such discussion outside of the group along with a number of other terms and conditions.
Applications require the submission of some personal details including photo ID including an Alice Springs residential address or Alice Springs School.
All information will be verified by Police before you can join Connect & Protect group.
Upon verification, you will be contacted by Police with specific instructions to submit a ‘friend request’.
Once you are an accepted friend, you will automatically be invited to join the Connect & Protect group, administered by Alice Springs Police.
While all members of the group can utilise this medium to discuss crime and crime prevention in Alice Springs, there will be notified times and dates when official police facilitated forums will take place.
You have to be a verified member of the group to view the notifications of when the next official online forum will take place.
Who can join?
‘Connect & Protect - Alice Springs’ aims to engage a group of Alice Springs residents who actively want to contribute as part of a local, online crime prevention partnership.
In order to participate, you must apply using the application form, agreeing to the terms and conditions, and meet the following criteria:
- Be an Alice Springs resident (including school students of Alice Springs Schools) as supported by valid photo ID or school ID.*
- Have a personal facebook account
- Have had your 15th birthday.
*Non Alice Springs residents can apply to join the group if they can demonstrate cause as to why they should be a member and what they can contribute.
Special guests may be invited to attend particular forums.
Application form
Download your application form here.