Man with links to outlaw motorcycle gang among four found illegally purchasing pepper spray on first day of Northern Territory trial
A man with links to an outlaw motorcycle gang was found to have illegally purchased pepper spray on the first day of a controversial trial in the Northern Territory which saw 440 cannisters sold.
Matt Cunningham Sky News Darwin Bureau Chief September 2, 2025
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/man-with-links-to-outlaw-motorcycle-gang-among-four-found-illegally-purchasing-pepper-spray-on-first-day-of-northern-territory-trial/news-story/a7539b97256893fe9e5e6cee22342199
Four people including a man with links to an outlaw motorcycle gang have illegally purchased pepper spray on the first day of a trial in the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory Government has legalised the possession of the spray – also known as OC spray – for personal protection.
It can only be purchased from licenced firearms dealers and only after signing a declaration confirming the purchaser is not the subject of a domestic violence order and does not have a serious criminal history.
A permit is then issued before the declaration is checked by police.
The spray being offered for sale is a diluted version of that used by police officers.
Acting Assistant Commissioner John Atkin said 255 people purchased 440 cannisters of the spray on Monday.
But he said four “prohibited persons” had purchased the spray.
Sources have told Sky News one of these people was a man with links to an outlaw motorcycle gang, although Mr Atkin did not directly respond to a question about this at a press conference on Tuesday.
He said police were tracking down the people who had purchased the spray illegally.
Four people including a man with links to an outlaw motorcycle gang have illegally purchased pepper spray on the first day of a trial in the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory Government has legalised the possession of the spray – also known as OC spray – for personal protection.
It can only be purchased from licenced firearms dealers and only after signing a declaration confirming the purchaser is not the subject of a domestic violence order and does not have a serious criminal history.
A permit is then issued before the declaration is checked by police.
The spray being offered for sale is a diluted version of that used by police officers.
Acting Assistant Commissioner John Atkin said 255 people purchased 440 cannisters of the spray on Monday.
But he said four “prohibited persons” had purchased the spray.
Sources have told Sky News one of these people was a man with links to an outlaw motorcycle gang, although Mr Atkin did not directly respond to a question about this at a press conference on Tuesday.
He said police were tracking down the people who had purchased the spray illegally.
“One had already been issued a notice to appear (in court) and had their OC spray seized,” he said.
“The other three are being followed up this morning.
“To those three people, my message is simple. Go to a police station and surrender the spray now. You’re not eligible to have it and keeping it puts you at further risk of offences.”
Meanwhile, the board of Victims of Crime NT has been forced to issue a clarifying statement after its chief executive officer signed an open letter opposing the pepper spray trial.
VoCNT CEO Gerard McGeough was among 21 leaders from NT organisations to sign the open letter, that was distributed by the Justice Not Jails group last Thursday.
“VoCNT emboldens Government to propel community growth and change away from reaction, rhetoric, and short-term cursory fixes very likely to deepen social issues and have inordinate economic consequences for every-day Territorians,” he said in the letter.
“VoCNT encourages and supports evidence-based, community led initiatives that honour our collective social responsibility to reduce the social determinants of crime for the benefit of every single Territorian in the long-term.”
But in a statement issued at the weekend, VoCNT chair William Newell said Mr McGeough had signed the letter and made the comments without the board’s approval.
“We acknowledge the seriousness of this matter and are taking steps to ensure that all future public representations made on behalf of VoCNT are appropriately authorised and aligned with our governance protocols,” he said.
Acting NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole is the patron of VoCNT and is playing a significant role in the 12-month trial.
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