A 18-year-old woman allegedly spat at a police officer before pulling an edged weapon on two officers while being arrested after she had allegedly assaulted transit security officers, NT Police said.

Senior Sergeant Kaye Pemberton said in a statement that about 2:15pm on Thursday police were called to the Casuarina bus exchange to help transit security officers catch the 18-year-old woman who had allegedly assaulted the security guards.

“As the offender was being escorted to the rear of the police vehicle, she resisted and spat at a male police officer before producing an edged weapon,” Snr Sgt Pemberton said.

“The offender then began to threaten police with the weapon.”

Snr Sgt Pemberton said a female officer negotiated with the woman to hand the weapon to police and she was then arrested.

The woman also allegedly spat at an police auxiliary at the Palmerston police watch house, Snr Sgt Pemberton said, and was charged with assaulting a worker, possessing a controlled weapon, going armed in public, resisting police, disorderly behaviour in a public place, and three counts of assaulting police.

“The repeat assault on police and transit security officers is completely unacceptable. Everyday our officers put themselves on the frontline to help those who need it most, to have them be assaulted is a criminal act, which will see offenders put before the court,” Snr Sgt Pemberton said.

“In regard to our female officer, she demonstrated remarkable skill and empathy in her handling of a tense situation. Through her calm demeanour and negotiation tactics, she was able to gently persuade the young woman to cooperate with police, ensuring the safety of all involved.”