Boost to security presence on Top End buses amid protests against anti-social behaviour

Private security officers are boarding Top End buses for the first time in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour. Here’s how the trial will work.

Extra security officers are riding on Top End bus routes in a bid to deter anti-social behaviour.

The three-month trial marks the first time private security officers have been positioned on Territory buses.

The NT government is placing 14 officers on key routes around Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston, which will boost the security presence of government-employed transit safety officers.

It comes less than two months after transit officers were granted powers to ban people from travelling if they were known to engage in unlawful behaviour on the bus or at interchanges.

Joga Singh, Kavita Mann and Andrew Ned are three of the 14 security officers that have started boarding Darwin buses. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Since mid-September, transit officers have also been able to make arrests if an officer is assaulted, among other offences.

Bus trips were also made free a few weeks later, with the commitment running until the end of this year.

The new security officers have powers to demand a person to supply their name, date of birth and address, as well as direct someone to get off a bus.

Unlike the transit officers, the new security personnel do not have the power to use force to remove someone.

In October, a group of bus drivers rallied outside Parliament House to demand safer working conditions.

They called for transit officers to be given powers to defend themselves, tip out alcohol and remove loiterers from interchanges, saying the suite of changes made in September were not enough.

Casuarina MLA Lauren Moss said officers would be able to “defuse” situations.

“Casuarina is a key retail destination and also a hub for government, health and other important community services,” Ms Moss said.

A spate of anti-social incidents, including violent assaults between teens, have taken place at Casuarina bus interchange in recent months. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“Providing a safer, more secure environment for those who rely on public transport will support our community by reducing anti-social behaviour.

“Security officers on board our buses and at the interchanges will be able to defuse situations, encourage compliance and provide ongoing support to our hardworking police and transit officers.”

Last Friday, a number of teens were allegedly involved in an assault at the Casuarina bus interchange.

Two people, including a 44-year-old bystander, were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital following the incident which involved what police described as an edged weapon.

Two youths, aged 14 and 15, have been charged with a total of 16 offences from the incident.

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Originally published as Boost to security presence on Top End buses amid protests against anti-social behaviour