Lia Finocchiaro gives OC spray update in week one of trial: Police say trial working despite breaches
As police officers continue to look for several prohibited persons who purchased OC spray, senior officials say the rollout “is working”.
With more than 550 Territorians now in possession of OC spray, police say the system is working as “intended”, despite three prohibited people who purchased it remaining unaccounted for.
At a Thursday morning media conference, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Acting Assistant Commissioner John Atkin gave Territorians their first major update since rolling out her controversial OC spray plan this week.
At the press conference at Fishing and Outdoor World on Cavanagh Street, Ms Finocchiaro revealed that data showed “a fairly even split between men and women purchasing.”
“The average of age of someone purchasing is 47 years of age,” she said
Mr Atkin also gave an update on the number of persons who got their hands on the spray when they shouldn’t have.
He confirmed that in the first 72 hours of the rollout, eight prohibited people walked into a store, illegally signed a statutory declaration, purchased a can and walked out.
Mr Atkin said that “all of that had been resolved” by 4pm Wednesday.
However, he revealed a further three prohibited people have since bought a can and are now unaccounted for.
“That’s being actively chased by police now,” Mr Atkin told media.
Overall, Mr Atkin said he was satisfied the system was effective.
“This is actually the trial working, this is how we set it up,” he said.
“And it’s working as it has been intended - people who aren’t supposed to get OC spray are being identified quickly and police are up quickly and we’re getting quick resolutions.”
Grant Hatcher of Fishing and Outdoor World told the NT News he had a couple of customers buy the can only to realise they were ineligible, therefore returning to the store to hand back the kit and get a refund.
Such was the rush for people to get their hands on the kit, that Grant ran out of stock within two days and it now waiting to be replenished.
“We’ve got more stock on order which will hopefully be here by about mid-next week.”
Mr Hatcher said his customers interested in getting their hands on spray were typically older.
“We haven’t had anybody at the counter that doesn’t look like they shouldn’t buy it, if you know what I mean,” he said.
“The demographic for us was probably that 50 to 60 age group and even split between male and female.”
For Territorians with questions on the use of spray, Neighbourhood Watch NT chief executive Veronica Larson said safety information was available.
“Those that choose to carry OC spray have an important responsibility to learn and implement appropriate safety protocols around their new personal safety item,” he said.
“Anyone seeking further information and what we’ll be providing online and in our safety sessions should reach out to a Personal Protection Strategies, who have qualified OC spray instructors that can assist further.”
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Originally published as Lia Finocchiaro gives OC spray update in week one of trial: Police say trial working despite breaches
