One person is already facing charges for obtaining pepper spray while ineligible, NT Police said Tuesday morning, with a search on for three others who also should not have been sold the spray on the first day of the 12-month OC spray trial.
The CLP Government’s controversial 12-month pepper spray trial started Monday amid concerns introducing a new weapon for the public, intended for self-defence, could be misused and cause unintended harm in the community.
More than 250 people purchased 440 cannisters of spray on Monday, including 15 cannisters purchased by security companies, NT Police said at a press conference Tuesday morning.
Cannisters of the spray are now available at registered firearms dealers, which is available to people over 18 with a photo ID, who claim they have not broken the law and are not facing charges. The names are being sent to police, but the system is not being monitored in real time.
NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner John Atkin said on Tuesday the pepper spray trial is “tightly controlled” and that the four people identified as ineligible to purchase the spray was a promising start, although it appears the police do not know where three of them currently are.
“That shows the safeguards are working as intended,” he said. “Those who shouldn’t have access are being picked up quickly and dealt with as was intended.
“To those three people [currently with spray], my message is simple: go to a police station and surrender the spray. You’re not eligible to have it and keeping it puts you at risk of committing further offences.”
Acting Asst Comm Atkin said police were aware of “community concerns” about the rollout of the spray.
“I remind you that people subject to domestic violence orders with serious criminal histories are prohibited from buying OC spray,” he said.
“If they try, they’re committing an offence and police will act. The oversight is risk-based through dealer reports, police data and targeted audits and the community reference group is in place to monitor broader impacts, including for vulnerable groups.”
Police said the average age of pepper spray purchasers is 47, but said breakdowns on gender were not being kept.
Acting Asst Comm Atkin said police were conducting audits on the names that are coming through from dealers, but did not say how many police were actively monitoring the data, which he said was “pretty much in real time”.
Those ineligible to buy the spray could face charges under the Weapons Control Act and possibly for filing misleading statutory declarations to obtain the spray, he said.
Asked at a press conference if one of the people currently under investigation for illegally obtaining the pepper spray is a bikie gang member, Asst Comm Atkin would not confirm or deny that.
“As I said, the process we are following is showing signs the system works,” he said.
Police did not say how many cannisters the prohibited purchasers currently have.
“That shows the safeguards are working as intended,”
no, measuring their failure does not show that safeguards work.
“As I said, the process we are following is showing signs the system works,”
that process:
kindly requesting ineligible people who have accessed the weapons to surrender to a police station at their convenience.
feeling safer yet?
Could be / Would be / Can be . . . Never to be? “CRIME”. A serious offence, one for which there is a punishment by Law. In our current day NT, punishment depends entirely upon AVAILABILITY? Court / Prison cells-beds / Age / Parental – Family Home / Media interest etc
“Pepper Spray”? Offence / Defence. Can we the public expect less of ‘kicking-in’ a front door or; a more polite “May we come in bitch / grandad”? What is the penalty for slack security ie Sorry Officer: I left it in my car door? Why would an immature child or hardened, street-wise youth bother purchasing PEPPER SPRAY? Other than to check-out where-in the store and/or how many staff? These kids are not stupid. Pepper Spray will now be available. For ‘their’ use. Attack and defend.
“To those three people [currently with spray], my message is simple: go to a police station and surrender the spray. You’re not eligible to have it and keeping it puts you at risk of committing further offences.”
NT Police begging offenders to please give us our sprays back. “Not eligible”, hahahahaaaha.
What a humiliating joke.
“Please don’t steal any more cars, c’mon fellas, do the right thing…….awwww please.”
…
On a side note, obviously those hairdresser boot camps are working well.
Tough on grime……or was it crime? Maybe it was slime?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-31/nt-government-youth-crime-boot-camps-circuit-breaker/105666982
“Pretty much in real time.”
Please be kind with your words.
NT police are doing exceptionally well considering they’re 30-40 years behind other jurisdictions.
And well done on the promotion, acting assistant commissioner eh?
You always did say how amazing you were and now you’re finally being recognised.
“Pepper Spray”. Why would an immature child / youth bother purchasing Pepper Spray? Other than to ADD to their “offence” options. Can we expect less of “Kicking-in” a front door or . . . a more polite “May we come in”? What is the penalty for slack security ie Sorry Officer; I left it in my car door?