Mother and daughter attacked by police

A police officer, mother and daughter are struggling to recover from the brutal attack that led to a three-day curfew in Alice Springs, their family said.

Chris Hopper’s wife Jenny and daughter Charlee were among four off-duty officers who were on their way back to their hotel early Sunday morning when they were allegedly attacked by a group of 20 men.

Mr Hopper, himself a former Queensland police officer, said he felt “defenceless”, “helpless” and “horrified” when he learned what had happened to his loved ones, who had only been in the outback town in the Northern Territory for a week.

His daughter Charlee was punched in the face, kicked on the ground several times and kicked in the head by “at least six adult perpetrators” before her cell phone was stolen.

She suffered a broken nose and facial injuries that extended to her jaw and teeth.

“She’s having trouble eating at the moment and they’re both having trouble sleeping,” Mr Hopper told the Courier Mail.

His wife Jenny had her glasses “knocked off her face” when she tried to tear off her bag, which had been snatched from her by the attackers.

“The perpetrators grabbed my wife by the hair and then threatened her with a large stone as if they wanted to hit her in the face with it,” Said Mr. Hopper.

“She also has some superficial facial injuries, but Charlee got off the worst.”

In addition to the mobile phone and the bag, a diamond ring was also stolen.

The couple and two other colleagues were on their way back to their hotel from the Epilogue Bar when they were surprised to see a group of 20 men running towards them, leaving them no time to react.

The male police officer did his best to protect the three women, but was unable to fend off the attacks.

Jenny and Charlee have been given time off from work and Mr. Hopper plans to fly to Alice Springs to join them.

They then travel to Darwin so that Charlee can continue her treatment.

At the same time, Mr Hopper called for tougher reforms to the Northern Territory’s youth justice law to give police officers more powers to deal with juvenile criminals.

Having lived in Alice Springs for the past three years, he was assured by his “contacts there” that the indigenous community was “absolutely shocked by what had happened” and felt deep shame.

Mr Hopper did not believe that his family members and their colleagues were attacked because of their work, as they were not wearing uniforms at the time.

“It was an opportunistic attack and it could have been anyone, but it just shows how out of control the situation can get down there,” he said.

The attack on the officers was one of several recent incidents that led to a three-day curfew in Alice Springs, which is due to end at 6am on Thursday.

The city’s central business area is cordoned off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and neither adults nor children are allowed on the streets during this time.

Despite the draconian measures, a fight broke out in front of a Coles store on Wednesday.

Police were called to the scene at around 1:15 p.m. after “receiving multiple reports of a large group fighting with various weapons.”

Police confiscated hunting sticks, spears, a baseball bat and a machete

Two women aged 17 and 19 and three men were arrested.

No serious injuries were reported.

“The crowd has dispersed and there is no threat to public safety,” police said.

“Family groups who knew each other are likely to have been involved in the incident.”

Those arrested are expected to be charged with “various offenses,” including disturbing the peace in a public place and possession of an offensive weapon.

“I commend the work of our police in responding quickly to the incident and arresting the perpetrators,” said Acting Southern Commander Drew Slape about the incident.

“There is no place for this type of violent crime in our community. We will continue to take action against people who behave in such reprehensible ways.”

Local business owner Darren Clark, who runs the social media account Action for Alice which documents criminal and anti-social behaviour in the town, said there was no information on whether the curfew would be extended beyond Thursday.

However, he told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday evening that he expected an extension.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy imposed a three-day curfew on Monday. It is the second time this year that the crisis area has been subjected to such draconian measures.

After a rioting mob took over the streets, a three-week curfew was imposed over the Easter period.

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