Mixed response to CLP’s capsicum spray plan as weapon fears raised

The CLP’s capsicum spray measure has received mixed reviews. Read why.

Capsicum spray intended to keep people safe will be weaponised to target innocent Territorians and police, critics of the plan have warned.

The NT News’ social media sites carried a broad suite of opinions around the controversial plan to allow the sale of OC spray, or capsicum spray, to civilians.

The NT Government announced on Tuesday it would conduct a 12-month trial beginning on September 1, to allow the sale of OC spray in gun shops for enhanced community protection.

But the community the government wants to protect has mixed views on the measure, with Will Green posting on Facebook that hotel security guards would “love” the idea.

“Hmm. Drunken patrons armed with OC spray.”

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Another contributor questioned whether OC spray would make people feel safer.

“Is it April 1 today?,” he wrote. “Funny story until some politician at the Nightcliff Markets becomes a victim of OC spray attack upon them.”

Jode Marie pointed out that carrying crossbows “would probably do a lot to deter certain situations too.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced the trial in Katherine this morning and speaking in Darwin, Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley played down potential risks to public safety.

“This is a tool to keep people safe,” he said.

“There are people out there doing the wrong thing and the government is trying hard to stop that. We’ve strengthened bail laws, we’ve made more capacity into the prisons and there are still out there committing crimes against the person.

“We see assaults and alcohol abuse across the Northern Territory, it doesn’t matter where you live, and this is just going to be another tool to get community members to fail safe in their own homes or in the street.

Selena Uibo has reservations about capsicum spray.

“If they come up to a situation where they think they’ve been assaulted or somebody’s going to assault them, this will be a tool to keep the community safe.

“This is a 12-month trial and it’s going to be just the law. If you assault someone you’re going to be breaching the law, so whether you use OC spray or a tyre lever or a screwdriver or a broken bottle, that’s against the law.”

The measure, based on a Western Australian model, is expected to be introduced on September 1 after a period of stakeholder consultation including police.

Opposition leader Selena Uibo said the introduction of capsicum spray was an “admission of failure” by the government.

“I know community safety is the number one priority for Territorians - and if OC spray gives people a small sense of security, that matters,” Ms Uibo said.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Acting NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole. Picture: Fia Walsh.

“But let’s be clear: this is an admission of failure by Lia Finocchiaro. In less than a year, crime has hit its highest levels yet - and now the Government is telling Territorians to defend themselves because it can’t do the job.

“If the Chief Minister was serious about community safety, she’d invest in crime prevention, better pay for police and more boots on the ground- not hand out pepper spray and hope for the best.”

Anna Sri, from grassroots community group Justice not Jails, said OC spray could result in injury and “unfair targeting of individuals”.

“The use of pepper spray by members of the public, who, like all of us will carry

cognitive bias and potentially make poor decisions under stress is likely to result in

injury and unfair targeting of individuals who are already having a difficult time and in

reality need more support, not weapons deployed against them,” she said.

Acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the announcement would trigger a “wide-ranging community consultation” involving the NT Police Association, health groups, legal experts and Aboriginal organisations.

“We want people to feel safer and not in fear,” he said. “That’s why the trial is a measured legal approach to make sure people feel safer.”

Originally published as Mixed response to CLP’s capsicum spray plan as weapon fears raised