NT Police seize 11 weapons after scanning 210 people across Anzac Day long weekend

Weapons have been seized by NT Police officers in a wanding operation in the Top End. Find out more.

NT Police using wanding metal detectors. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

Eleven weapons were seized by Northern Territory Police at the Anzac Day long weekend, as it pledges to maintain its “wanding” operations in the wake of an alleged murder in Nightcliff.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Territory Community Safety James O’Brien said the wanding operations seen at the weekend were part of “broader efforts to maintain a safe [NT]”.

“Legislative changes in October last year introduced a more streamlined authorisation process, enabling police to conduct wanding operations in a broader range of public settings, not just designated high-risk areas,” he said.

NT Police using wanding metal detectors. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Wanding operations are done using handheld metal scanners to detect and seize prohibited weapons such as knives, machetes, axes and any other weapons found to be illegally possessed in public places.

Police have the power to stop and scan people to find any weapons.

In total, 210 people were scanned for weapons at the Anzac long weekend, with police alleging all 11 weapons seized were scissors.

According to Mr O’Brien, the operation saw increased police presence in public areas and shopping centres across the Greater Darwin Region including Nightcliff, Casuarina, Darwin and Palmerston.

It came less than a week after the alleged murder of Linford Feick; the 71-year-old owner of Nightcliff Friendly Grocer.

NT Police using wanding metal detectors. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

NT Police said they have undertaken more than 50 wanding operations since October 30, 2024.

Of these operations, more than 5000 people have been scanned with 99 weapons seized as a result – meaning a ninth of all weapons seized in the past five months were found at the weekend.

In New South Wales Police as of March have seized 91 illegal weapons from 4147 people since December.

And in Tasmania, a recent wand trial has resulted in about one in four people searched being found to have weapons on them.

Tasmania Police said of the 213 searches conducted since December, 54 weapons were seized; 42 of which were knives.

Originally published as NT Police seize 11 weapons after scanning 210 people across Anzac Day long weekend