New NT police public safety officers 'fully trained' in carrying guns

Northern Territory Police are assuring the public that new Public Safety Officers (PPSOs) are adequately trained to carry firearms and make arrests, despite their shorter training period compared to constables. The Territory Labor opposition has voiced concerns that these officers, who undergo 18 weeks of training versus the 32 weeks for constables, will be armed and deployed in high-crime areas, including public housing estates and on the bus network.

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They are trained fully in the use of firearms and all their accoutrements, they are trained fully in the use of force, they are trained fully in the Summary Offences Act, they are trained fully in how to arrest people.

NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Brendan Muldoon emphasized that PPSOs receive comprehensive training in firearms, use of force, and arrest procedures. He clarified that their role is focused on visible patrolling and early intervention to prevent antisocial behavior from escalating into serious crime, rather than conducting complex investigations. "We want them out on the street, intervening early, tipping out alcohol, addressing people who are causing antisocial behaviour, they'll be highly visible, we want the public to see them, we want the public to feel safe," Muldoon stated.

Muldoon explained that the shorter training is intentional, allowing officers to focus on immediate intervention rather than administrative tasks. "What we haven't trained them in is how to go on and investigate those offences, so we don't want them back at the police station being tied up doing paperwork, putting files before the courts," he said. He cited a recent operation in Palmerston where increased police presence significantly reduced serious violent crimes stemming from antisocial behavior.

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What we haven't trained them in is how to go on and investigate those offences, so we don't want them back at the police station being tied up doing paperwork, putting files before the courts.

However, Opposition MLA Chansey Paech, alongside other Aboriginal leaders, has raised concerns about the potential for increased harm, particularly in flashpoint settings involving Indigenous individuals with complex issues. They worry that introducing armed officers with less training than constables into these environments could exacerbate problems. Police maintain that the increased visibility of PPSOs across the Territory will contribute to an overall reduction in crime.

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We want them out on the street, intervening early, tipping out alcohol, addressing people who are causing antisocial behaviour, they'll be highly visible, we want the public to see them, we want the public to feel safe.