00:02On these hot, humid days, the grounds of the NT's third biggest courthouse are a refuge.
00:08A cool, shady place to wait, or chat with lawyers.
00:12It's a meeting place, it's a waiting place, it can be a grieving place.
00:18It can be a place where people sit and quietly contemplate what's happening in their life.
00:24In a letter to court users obtained by the ABC, the principal registrar said a perimeter fence was required in
00:31response to a number of security and safety incidents, including windows and doors being smashed.
00:38However, to avoid an institutional or imposing appearance, they're proposing a looped, pool-style fence rather than fencing with spikes.
00:47Domestic violence matters make up a huge portion of the court's work.
00:53And the Catherine Women's Legal Service says the fence idea is ill-conceived.
00:58It really worries us to think about the number of victim survivors that are attending court every single day,
01:05who are experiencing things like threats or intimidation from the person themselves who used violence or sometimes from their extended
01:13family.
01:14If that situation boils over into something physical, then having a fence up, even with the gate open,
01:21is going to reduce the number of different ways that somebody can escape that situation.
01:27The gate would be left open during the day.
01:29But because people are only checked for metal once they enter the actual building,
01:34the legal service is worried about people bringing weapons into the fenced area.
01:38You could be in a confined space with someone who has wielded a weapon at you and you can't just
01:45run in any direction.
01:47You need to run to the gate.
01:48If they put themselves in front of where that gate is, you've got nowhere to go.
01:52The Attorney-General's Department told the ABC design work is ongoing
01:56and feedback on how the fence could restrict movement is being considered.
02:01Get started.
02:02The message is coming out fromум.
02:03the message is coming out from看到ess management,
02:03you can do aса in this world or want to be a safe place where it is.
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