Police in the Northern Territory have declared a three-day curfew in Alice Springs after a spate of violence in the outback town over the weekend.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the centre of Alice Springs would be a “declared area” from 10pm until 6am for the next three nights, meaning police could stop anyone in the zone and ask them to leave, with some exceptions, such as for those fleeing family violence.

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Murphy said changes to the Police Administration Act introduced to NT parliament in June allowed him to make a “public social disorder declaration” to implement the curfew. He cited four incidents over the weekend as justification.

First, on Friday, he said a vehicle ran over a police officer, causing fractures to his leg and arm.

Second, on Saturday evening, Murphy said police had to respond with some force to subdue “a large-scale disturbance involving up to 80 people” that were violent. Once dispersed, Murphy said part of the crowd then wandered off and allegedly assaulted off-duty police.

Third, on Sunday at lunchtime, Murphy said a 43-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed at an event at the town’s council lawns.

Fourth, last night, three youths allegedly robbed a service station in a stolen vehicle.

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“Cumulatively those harms are not acceptable,” Murphy said.

He said he was mindful to implement a curfew in the town with a large Indigenous population during NAIDOC Week. He promised events relating to the week – that celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia – would not be cancelled.

“[It’s] vitally important during this time, and more important than ever, that we need community support to solve [the] longer-term issues of Alice Springs,” Murphy said.

“And the answer is not in the criminal justice system, but the community and the leadership.”