Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says police have made 140 arrests and taken 20 repeat offenders into custody in Alice Springs since new measures were announced last Thursday.

She acknowledged the NT’s legal system does not meet community expectations with some young people having hundreds of prior offences continuing to get bail.

The Chief told Katie Woolf the government’s bail changes will take effect in January and efforts are underway to increase court hours to address a backlog of people in custody.

Ms Finocchiaro also said she and senior police leadership will be working all through Christmas to ensure everything is being thrown at addressing crime.

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