The Hon. Natasha Fyles, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, The Hon. Kate Worden, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (NT), Joint Media Release, 24 July 2023
The Territory Labor Government is giving NT Police stronger powers to stop and search individuals for knives and other weapons unlawfully possessed in public places.
Amendments proposed to the Police Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2023 will authorise police to use handheld scanners to detect, seize and destroy weapons being carried by individuals. Carrying a controlled weapon without reasonable excuse is an offence which carries a penalty of 12 months imprisonment, this term is double if the offence occurs at night time.
This legislation will be passed on urgency.
These amendments stem from the Government’s review into Bail and Weapons in the Northern Territory, which was released today.
The review was undertaken by an expert panel comprising of NT Police, the Department of the Attorney General and Justice including NT Correctional Services, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities which closely examined data and evidence relating to weapon offending.
Earlier this year Government strengthened presumptions against bail for those involved in violent offences involving a weapon.
The review recommended further changes to the Weapons Control Act 2001, including adding axe into the definition of a ‘controlled weapon’ and clarifying the definition of a knife to include a machete. Violent offences involving these weapons will trigger a presumption against bail.
A range of non-legislative amendments will also get underway including training for judges and DPP on potential risks of defendants on bail, strengthening bail support programs and extra resources to facilitate faster resolutions of court cases.
In addition to all of these actions, an overall Knife Crime Strategy for the Northern Territory is expected to be released this August.
For more information go to: https://justice.nt.gov.au/bail-review.
Quotes from Chief Minister Natasha Fyles:
“There is no place for knife crime in the Territory, and no excuses for people who commit knife crime.
“We asked Police what powers they needed to deal with knife crime. They’ve told us, we’ve listened, and we’re changing the law based on their advice.
“Police will now have the powers to stop people, search them, and destroy weapons they may be carrying. And if someone uses that weapon in a violent crime, it’s going to be even harder to get bail.
“We will keep listening to the community and the experts, and keep working every day to make the Territory safer.”
Quotes from Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Kate Worden:
“Our Police do a fantastic job and these new powers will allow them to make our community safer by removing dangerous weapons off the streets.
“We have listened to the concerns of the community and have empowered Police to better prevent and respond to knife crime in our community.”
