Safety officers on Darwin, Palmerston buses to get capsicum spray

Safety officers on Top End buses will soon have the power to use capsicum spray. Here’s what it means for people using public transport.

The rollout of capsicum spray on Top End buses is under way but it will likely be several weeks before the “last resort” tool can be used.

It was a key announcement in Chief Minister Natasha Fyles’ plan to make the Territory safe again, following the alleged murder of Darwin bottleshop worker Declan Laverty.

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the 17 government-employed transit safety officers would undertake eight hours of “comprehensive” training to use the oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray.

While she would not be drawn on a timeline, Ms Lawler said the training with correctional services had been booked for early April and the department was currently working on the guidelines of OC use.

Transit safety officers on board Top End buses are set to get the power to use capsicum spray against violent or threatening passengers. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“Transit safety officers are government employees, so for us, it’s one that we can move on more quickly than we can around the security officers,” she said.

“The use of OC spray will be an absolute last resort.

“We know that there was a whole group of Territorians that catch the bus every day.

“We need to make sure that that is as enjoyable as possible, but absolutely safe as well.”

Ms Lawler also confirmed a three-month trial announced in November to have 14 private security officers on Top End buses and at interchanges has been indefinitely extended.

Government-employed transit safety officers as well as private crowd controllers will soon have the power to use capsicum spray across the Northern Territory. Picture: Supplied

She said work was also under way with employers to grant the same powers to private security officers, as well as crowd controllers at bottleshops.

At least 46 arrests have been made since transit safety officers were granted powers to arrest people and issue banning notices in September.

“The highest thing that a (Minister) can do is bring in legislation, so we bought legislation last year around banning notices at bus stops and the ability to be able to arrest,” Minister Lawler said.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said she wanted to see transit safety officers get the power to use capsicum spray “as soon as possible”. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“We’ve done a lot of the work that we need to do, but we need to continue to do that.

“The bus drivers are part of a private company, CDC, but we work every day to improve things for our bus drivers.”

More than $2m has also been announced to upgrade the Palmerston Bus Interchange and several Top End bus stops.

Local companies Norbuilt and Programmed Property Services have been awarded tenders to do various infrastructure works including lighting and disability access, while the Casuarina and Palmerston interchanges will get fresh coats of ‘anti-graffiti’ paint.

No disruptions to bus routes are expected during construction, which starts in late April.

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