Shame works because it addresses the fundamental human desire for respect and acceptance. Bringing back shame as a consequence for wrongdoing is neither cruel nor archaic, it is a rational, proven strategy to reduce crime and strengthen social cohesion. A society unwilling to shame harmful behaviour openly will soon find itself overwhelmed by it, paying the price in violence, disorder, and lost human potential.

Moral clarity does not require cruelty. It requires honesty. It means calling a thief a thief, a predator a predator, and a liar a liar, without waiting for a committee to redefine the terms. Criminal behaviour is not a misunderstood cry for help. It is a deliberate rejection of responsibility, often repeated, often escalating, and often protected by institutions that fear public disapproval more than they fear real harm.

A shopping centre with a history of youth disturbances every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. doesn’t need another committee, it needs a uniformed presence by 3:45. A bus station with a string of assaults between 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. doesn’t need more signage, it needs targeted visibility during those exact hours. A council carpark with repeated vandalism reports on weekend nights doesn’t need a policy review, it needs boots on the ground, eyes on the exits, and zero tolerance for l

And for those who think this mindset is too harsh, too judgemental, or too “unfair,” ask yourself this, do you want to win the moral argument with a knife-wielding addict? Or do you want to make it home to your family? Because criminals don’t argue with your philosophy. They don’t respect your values. They don’t care what’s on your social media profile. They care about whether you’ll fight back. Or better yet, whether you’re just not worth the trouble. So, stop being th

Because if you don't fix the broken windows, soon enough, you’ll be dodging bricks, and the NT has learnt, the hard way, the criminals are carrying knives.

In securing our communities, our greatest responsibility lies not merely in responding to crime but in proactively establishing environments that discourage its genesis.