NT Police to be given tough new gun law powers

BIKIES and their associates are in the sights of police thanks to tough new firearms laws which will give Territory cops the power to search suspected crooks for guns without a warrant

NT Police will soon be able to search suspected crooks for guns without a warrant

BIKIES and their associates are in the sights of police thanks to tough new firearms laws which will give Territory cops the power to search suspected crooks for guns without a warrant.

Under the legislation to be introduced to Parliament this week, the Police Commissioner will have the power to issue a firearm prohibition order to any person he believes would pose a risk to the community should they acquire a gun.

The orders can be placed on a person as young as 14.

That order would ban that person from possessing a gun or being in the company of someone with a gun.

It would also give police the power to search suspects – or their homes or cars – without a warrant.

The Police Commissioner will be able to impose firearm prohibition orders based on a suspect’s prior criminal history, prior behaviour, or confidential police intelligence.

The conditions can be applied even if the person has no criminal convictions.

Orders can also be applied based on a suspect’s association with bikies or other crime figures.

The orders will last a decade for adults and five years for those under 18.

Breaches carry a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

While those slapped with the bans can appeal to NTCAT, police will not be required to give a reason for issuing an order if it was based on confidential criminal intelligence.

The introduction of the laws comes almost four months after the deaths of four people in Darwin in what was the Territory’s worst mass shooting in 30 years.

Michael Sisois, Hassan Baydoun, Nigel Hellings and Rob Courtney were killed in June. Benjamin Glenn Hoffmann has been charged with their murders.

Police Minister Nicole Manison said the new laws would make it harder for guns to wind up in the hands of suspected criminals.

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“Sadly, we have seen the horrific impact that gun violence can have – this legislation will give police more powers to stop gun violence,” Ms Manison said.

The amendment will increase the maximum penalty for a range of firearms offences from two years imprisonment to three years.

The bill will be referred to the Social Policy Scrutiny Committee for review.