The NT Government will station security guards on key Darwin bus routes, as part of a three month trial to improve safety on the bus network, however the Opposition said they have no faith the government “can pull this off”.

The security guard trial comes as bus drivers have called on the government to help protect them and the public from an increase in assaults and anti-social behaviour on buses and at interchanges. Last weekend, two people were sent to hospital after being attacked for helping another assault victim.

The government said it is responding to the increase in crimes on the bus network by hiring 14 security guards to travel on key routes over the next three months, “riding alongside the passengers and providing a visible deterrent to anti-social behaviour”.

“Having dedicated security officers riding the network is a first for the Northern Territory and the trial aims to improve behaviour on and confidence in the bus network,” Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said in a statement.

“The security officers have the powers to demand a person to supply their name, date of birth and address. They can also give direction and require someone to get off a bus.”

But the security guards are not believed to have the power to use force to remove someone.

The Opposition CLP said anti-social incidents on buses had increased because the Fyles Government had “removed the consequences for crime and anti-social behaviour, turning the transit system into a network of mobile crime scenes”.

“Minister Lawler has announced more security for Darwin buses, but [she] does not specify how much the three-month trial will cost the department, and does not specify if the 14 additional security officers will be Transit Safety Officer trained or just contracted security guards,” CLP infrastructure spokesman Gerard Maley said.

“There are many questions which remain unanswered here and we have no faith the government can pull this off and make public transport safe for everyone.

“Hundreds of bus services were cancelled last month, with drivers refusing to cop the abuse and threats, while Blue Taxi driver numbers have plummeted from 200 to about 40.

“Nobody deserves to be spat on, abused and threatened in the work place.”

In September, the government gave transit officers the ability to make arrests if assaults occur on buses and were also permitted to ban people if they had engaged in previous unlawful conduct.

Member for Casuarina Lauren Moss said the security guards will provide a safer environment for people at the Casuarina bus interchange and enhance the other measures in place.

“Security officers on board our buses and at the interchanges will be able to diffuse situations, encourage compliance and provide ongoing support to our hard-working police and transit officers,” she said.