1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,119 Speaker 1: Now joining me live in the studio is the acting 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Commander of the Darwin Region for the Northern Territory Police, 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: Sean Gill. Good morning to you. 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: Sean, morning Coaty. 5 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: Good to have you in the studio. Thanks so much 6 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: for your time this morning. Now, there's been a few 7 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: incidents over the last few days, well, certainly over the 8 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: weekend that I reckon concerned people. One in particular that 9 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: disturbance at per Rap where we had a situation where 10 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: it sounds like it was a brawl at Perap about 11 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: one five in the AVO on Saturday, and then the 12 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: two security guards were assaulted by a group of up 13 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: to twenty people. 14 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: Oh that's right, Yeah, that's right, Coty. So as you 15 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: said before, there was two security guards in the area 16 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 2: were assorted by approximately twenty twenty people. Police attended. Two 17 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: adult males are arrested and they've been released penning investigations. 18 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: So in general terms, the investigation is still going on 19 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: with regards to that manner, but also you know, like 20 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: consulting security guards whoever's doing their job and the line 21 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: of their duties is just not on. So we'll be 22 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: investigating following sub as hard as we can. 23 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, and then you know in that pressure release 24 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: it says they had bottles and sticks, like, are we 25 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: talking big? What are we talking here? Look? 26 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 2: I don't have specific details, but you know, in terms 27 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 2: of general bottles and sticks, it's usually stuff that's very 28 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: close and handy and pick up and the like as well, 29 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 2: So they can range from trees and tree branches and 30 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: the like, as well as saying though it's just it's 31 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: just not on and picking up any of that sort 32 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: of stuff to hurt somebody while they're trying to lawfully 33 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: do their job. Yeah, it's just not going to be. 34 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: Stood for, no, absolutely, And then when you hear that 35 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: both security guards they were obviously injured, one of them 36 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: suffering suspected fractures. Both conveyed to Royal dal And Hospital. 37 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: It's ordinary stuff. There has been a couple of people arrested, 38 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: but no doubt police still calling for some info of so, yeah. 39 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: If there's any they've got any information, they bring us 40 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: a one three, one trip or four YELP or on 41 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 2: crime stoppers in this any information you can give where 42 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: it can be anonymous as well. 43 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. The other one that was really disturbing over the 44 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: weekend was this one where workers at the Nightcliff shopping 45 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: center ended up being assaulted. So police arrested four adult 46 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: offenders following this situation in Nightcliff on Saturday morning. I 47 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: think it unfolded about eight twenty five. 48 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 2: Yes, that's correct, Coatie. So at about eight twenty five 49 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: received report security guards being assaulted by four offenders at 50 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 2: the supermarket at dick Ward Drive. Male security guard attempted 51 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: to move on a group from the area. It's alleged 52 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 2: to the female allegedly tempted to punch him before one 53 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 2: for one of the males and a fifty six year 54 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 2: old male produced large sticks and back and assaulted and 55 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: sold them with it. These persons have subsequently been arrested. 56 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 2: We sit there before the courts. Again, it's the same 57 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 2: issue as you said before. The use of weapons in 58 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: assaulting people who are actually doing their job is just 59 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 2: not on obviously, as I said, it's before the courts. Yeah, 60 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: that's the allegation. 61 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: Yeah and yeah, I mean, like I just can't understand 62 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: what goes through someone's brain. I know, again alleged, but 63 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: what goes through your brain where you think someone's asked 64 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: you to move on and you go, I'm going to 65 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: pick up something and try to assault the person that's 66 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: asked me to move on. 67 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 2: It's just unbelievable and exactly, and it probably goes back 68 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: to the point to what security and police fundamentally doing 69 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 2: is keeping the place safe and trying to look after 70 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 2: the public, and then for that they get assaulted. 71 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: Yeah. Hey, on Thursday night last week, there was this 72 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: situation that unfolded along the Esplanade just before nine pm. 73 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: Police receiving reports that a twenty six year old female 74 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: was assaulted by three female youths along the esplanade. Now 75 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: it's alleged to this group, we're attempting to steal the 76 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: victim's bag. However, they would disturb by a taxi driver 77 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: who stopped his vehicle where that assault was taking place. Now, 78 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: those offenders in fled the scene and boarded a metro 79 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: bus from Darwin CBD. And that's what I understand. All 80 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: the police working with the CCTV operators were able to 81 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: locate them on that bus exactly. 82 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: So first thing is that there's some great work done 83 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: by the CCTV operators to identify them quickly in a 84 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 2: great response by police. So during the arrest of these 85 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 2: three years the offendage allegedly sold the two police officers. 86 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 2: One of the offenders spat on an officer and then 87 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 2: assided the second officer by scratching their arms and kicking 88 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 2: them to the chest. These three offenders have subsequently been 89 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 2: arrested in charge of defenses. I don't have the offenses 90 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 2: in front of me, but it'd be something along the 91 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 2: lines i'd imagine of assaults and the like as well. 92 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 2: Again goes back to the point, you know, it's the 93 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: same theme through this at the moment. There's some great 94 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 2: work done by the police. There's some great work done 95 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: by even the taxi drier identifying these people as well. 96 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 2: So because I saying I'm putting new into this command, 97 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 2: but I will tell you now, I'm not going to 98 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: be standing for coppers getting assaulted. Whatever we can do 99 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: to investigate it, I'll certainly be pushing it hard. Yeah. 100 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: Well, it's the last thing anybody wants to see. I mean, 101 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: very often the police, even those security guards, so they're 102 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: trying to, you know, to give everybody else a bit 103 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: of a hand when people are doing the wrong thing, 104 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: and you know, for the police going and you're attempting 105 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: to arrest these three female youths who've prayed upon and 106 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: I'm going to call it that prayed upon this twenty 107 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: six year old woman while she's out walking. I don't 108 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: know what she's doing, that's her business at eight fifty five. 109 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: And to then have to worry about something like that happening, 110 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: you'd be bloody terrified, look, and she would be. 111 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: There's no doubt about that. And we can't escape from that. 112 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 2: So but I can't say there's a good part to it. 113 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: But I suppose the good part is that we've got 114 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 2: the offenders in custody as well, and you know, for 115 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: those offenses. And then you know, again police doing their 116 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: jobs and execution of their duty looking after the public 117 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: get us sold. 118 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: Just not on. It's not on. Hey, Sean, tell me 119 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: in terms of the OC spray roll out, how things going. 120 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 1: Have we've got any up to date numbers, you know, 121 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: with the number of people that have purchased it and 122 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: that kind of thing. 123 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I'll give you some of the key figures. So 124 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,119 Speaker 2: the number of individual buyers or purchases is fifteen hundred 125 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: and ninety seven. The number of canisters purchased as two 126 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 2: thy six hundred and sixty three during that there's during 127 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: the process, as you know, there's some pretty strict guidelines 128 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 2: about who's purchasing so done, there's been a lot of 129 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 2: back of house investigations and making sure the appropriate. 130 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: People are going out, which we. 131 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 2: Want to make sure. So twenty six prehimited buyers have 132 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 2: been identified, twenty six did just seventy six and we've 133 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: seized thirty five canisters as a result of that. Essentially, 134 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 2: it's not, as we're quite clear on this when we started, 135 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: only certain people can get it and it's not open 136 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 2: for everybody, and you have to fit the fit into 137 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: the demographics or the process and saying the good thing 138 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: is we're identifying people who shouldn't have it and it's 139 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: been taken off them. 140 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: So twenty six people, so is that sort of after 141 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: they purchased them, purchase their canisters and the police go 142 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: through do that check. After all the info is provided 143 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: by the retailers, and that's where you then go, what 144 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: do you do, Like you go knock on their door 145 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: and go, hey, you guys aren't meant to have. 146 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 2: This in the simplest forms, Yes, so we look at 147 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 2: the forms. Obviously there's a lot of back of house investigation. 148 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 2: You can fill out the forum and we will check 149 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: on these people to make sure the appropriate ones to 150 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 2: have it. As again it goes back. It's the intent 151 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: of this is to keep people safe and it's not 152 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 2: intended for people who don't deserve to have it. 153 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, when you go, I mean, I don't know whether 154 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: you can give us much detail, but when you do 155 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: go and knock on their door and say, hey, you're 156 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: actually not meant to have this, are people generally pretty 157 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: compliant or do they try and you know, go, I 158 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: can so have a bit of an argument with you 159 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: about it. 160 00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 2: Look, I haven't done any myself, so to be hard 161 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 2: to comment. But the fact of the matter is we're going 162 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: to take them back anyway, So. 163 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, regardless. And do they then get like what's the go? 164 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: Do they get charged or anything? Or you just get 165 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: it taken off you? And is there any further process 166 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: from that point? 167 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 2: Look, I'm not sure the process after that. Look, I 168 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: can find out about it, but the most important thing 169 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: is the people identify and the most important thing is 170 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 2: that people don't have it, Yeah, in their possession. I'd 171 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: imagine there'd be some sort of follow up, but I'd 172 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 2: be loath to comment specifically. 173 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: That's right. We can follow you up on that anyway. 174 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: I'm sure well good to catch up with you this morning. 175 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:38,079 Speaker 1: Acting Commander of the Darwin Region, Sean Gil really appreciate 176 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: your time. Thanks so much for joining us. Thank you, 177 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: thank you.