Transit Safety Officers trained to use capsicum spray as ‘last resort’ on Territory bus network

Transit Safety Officers have been given more leeway to spray commuters with capsicum spray than Territory cops, with the less-lethal weapons able to be used to protect property on the Top End bus network.

Transit Safety Officer Sarah Reese is one of 23 bus security workers now authorised to use capsicum spray on the NT bus network.

Bus bouncers armed with capsicum spray have been granted more powers to use the weapons than the Territory police force, with the tear gas canisters now in use across NT bus routes.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler announced that 17 Transit Safety Officers had completed their capsicum spray training, with another five new recruits due to be deployed with the less-lethal weapons by the end of the month.

Ms Lawler said as of Monday the trained TSOs could use the weapons against commuters — including children — as a method of “last resort” if confronted with anti-social or violent behaviour.

She said Victoria and Western Australia were the only other jurisdictions to allow transit officers to use the weapons.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler with Transit Safety Officers Sarah Reese showing her where her capsicum spray canister is kept.

Ms Lawler said there would be “close monitoring” of the spray, with a two-tier committee to be stood up every time the canister was removed from its holster or used.

As part of their training all 23 TSOs have had capsicum spray used against them, with Sarah Reese describing the experience as “horrible”.

“It’s like a really, really horrible sunburn,” she said.

“I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Transport, safety and services executive director Cindy McDonald said the training on the use of capsicum spray was comprehensive and included after-care procedures, with a refresher course every 12 months.

“First and foremost it's about de-escalating,” Ms McDonald said.

“Because the transit officers know quite a lot of the people that use the bus system, they are aware of the issues that they are facing.”

Ms McDonald said given the confined space of a bus, the sprays had been adapted into a gel to minimise injury to bystanders being injured.

“We’ve used OC spray that is very targeted, so the risk of overspray is quite limited,” Ms McDonald said.

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics transport, safety and services executive director Cindy McDonald.

But she said if the spray was used inside, decontamination procedures meant commuters would likely be forced to wait until the next bus arrived.

Ms McDonald said the sprays could be used in life-threatening situations — such as a person running at an officer with a weapon — but also to protect property.

However a NT Police internal general order, obtained by this publication, says cops cannot use the capsicum spray to protect property.

It stated the weapon could only be used if there is a physical threat to the officer or others, and they cannot reasonably protect themselves less forcefully.

Transit Safety Officers Sarah Reese and Joel Pavy are among the 23 bus security workers now authorised to use capsicum spray on the NT bus network.

The use of force directive also warned against using the spray on young children, infirmed people, or those who appear to be suffering from a mental illness, and highlighted that “inappropriate use may tend to inflame a situation”.

Ms McDonald said while information about improper use investigations would be published, the findings of investigations would remain “departmental”.

Ms McDonald said DIPL would accept civil liability if a bystander was sprayed, or if wrongdoing was found.

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said cops were prepared to lay charges against TSOs misusing the weapons, who would also be subject to oversight by the NT Ombudsman.

“If the use of force provision is disproportionate or unnecessary Northern Territory police will investigate it,” Mr Murphy said.

Originally published as Transit Safety Officers trained to use capsicum spray as ‘last resort’ on Territory bus network