Northern Territory makes pepper spray legal for teenagers

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 01:32 · Archive

The Northern Territory has made OC Spray legal for self-defence, expanding access to people aged 16 and above following a year-long trial cited as having a 99 per cent success rate. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the government had received feedback during the trial that many parents wanted their 16 and 17-year-olds to have access to pepper spray, particularly those working night-time jobs.

Eligible teenagers will be able to purchase, possess, carry and use controlled OC Spray with parental or guardian consent. The new regulations ban young people from taking the spray into schoolgrounds. The arrangements also expand its use within Northern Territory households, allowing residents and eligible visitors to deploy it for self-defence in 'genuine emergency situations'. Availability has also been extended to workers in security, hospitality, crowd control and licensed venues.

Ms Finocchiaro stated that access to OC Spray could make a significant difference for young people's safety, describing it as potentially 'the difference between life and death, or serious injury'.

How it is being reported

• Pepper spray for self defence made legal in territoryA crime-troubled territory is set to make use of pepper spray for self defence legal permanently, expanding availability to kids as young as 16 after a trial.Perth Now · 13 Oct, 01:14
• Pepper spray for self defence made legal in territoryA crime-troubled territory is set to make use of pepper spray for self defence legal permanently, expanding availability to kids as young as 16 after a trial.The West Australian · 13 Oct, 01:14

In this story: Northern Territory · Lia Finocchiaro

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