Capsicum spray rollout to NT private security questioned by union, NTCOSS

A security measure meant to protect people at late-night venues could actually put workers and vulnerable Territorians at risk, unions and advocates warn.

Capsicum spray in the hands of private security guards has been described as a “recipe for disaster”, putting workers and vulnerable people at risk.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announced Transit Safety Officers would soon be equipped with Oleoresin Capsicum spray and training would begin to hand over the restricted weapon to security and crowd controller licence holders.

A spokeswoman for the Chief Minister said the policy was “still being finalised” but would be “guided” by police use-of-force orders, including aftercare requirements, reporting obligations and other safeguard mechanisms.

However, the union representing crowd controllers and security guards has warned the weapons may “do more harm than good for the worker”.

United Workers Union NT Secretary Erina Early said the union would always support measures for staff safety but there were simply too many questions left unanswered about the new proposals.

United Workers Union NT Secretary Erina Early said the union would always support measures for staff safety. Picture: Jason Walls

Ms Early asked what training and precautions would be in place, if special licenses were needed, what size the canisters would be and what other methods had to be used before using the weapon.

“Will it be used in packed crowds or confined spaces as you run the risk of hurting others or the officer incapacitating themselves?” she asked.

“Will officers be required to exhaust all their defensive skills to deal with an aggressor prior to the use of pepper spray?

“Pepper spray can be a very helpful self defence tool for crowd officers and security however in inadequately trained hands and if the use of the spray is poorly regulated, it can do more harm than good for the worker.”

Northern Territory Council of Social Service acting chief executive Sarah Holder said the roll out of capsicum spray to private security was a “dangerous expansion and a recipe for disaster”.

Northern Territory Council of Social Services policy manager Sarah Holder is worried about capsicum spray.

Ms Holder said there were serious concerns given the lack of clear regulations, guidelines, oversight and complaints mechanisms for proposed expansion to private sector workers.

She said while crowd controllers and security guards received training, it was inappropriate to expect them to met the “highly specialised” requirements needed for the lawful use the restricted weapon.

“It’s a weapon, and its dangerous and should only be deployed under very tightly controlled circumstances by properly trained people,” Ms Holder said.

“To expect that level of decision making, in a very short time frame, under a pressure situation, we think that’s unrealistic.

“I think they could potentially lead to escalations of incidents, or at the very least lead to these weapons being used on vulnerable people.

“We’re really concerned about what this could mean for people with mental ill health, Aboriginal people and people experiencing homelessness.”

According to an internal Police General Order for the use of force, only trained and qualified officers can use the spray and they must take an annual course to requalify.

Police must also record every time the weapon is used and be able to justify the use of force.

It said police could use the “aerosol subject restraints” if there was a belief the person posed a physical threat to the officer or another person, and no other less forceful method was available.

It said the weapon should not be used against a person providing passive resistance, children, infirmed people, or those suffering mental illness.

“Officers using an ASR are responsible for adequate decontamination, aftercare and monitoring of the subject including arrangements to have further medical assessment,” it said.

Ms Holder said while there was a clear complaints mechanisms for police and corrections workers, which are referred to the NT Ombudsman, it was unclear who would monitor the complaints against the private sector workers, who often reported to national corporations.

NT Ombudsman Peter Shoyer said aftercare when using capsicum spray was an ongoing issue with the restricted weapon.

Even with these regulations and oversight, the misuse of capsicum spray by both police and corrections officers remains a regular complaint to the NT Ombudsman.

Chief watchdog Peter Shoyer said aftercare when using capsicum spray was an ongoing issue with the restricted weapon, while also assessing alleged incidents where authorised officers used the spray either without justification, excessively, or without verbal warnings.

“I have previously made a recommendation in relation to the need, particularly in remote communities, to carry adequate water to provide aftercare in the event that OC spray is deployed,” Mr Shoyer said in the latest annual report.