00:00Catherine's fishing and hunting shop is expecting the first shipment of OC spray to arrive tomorrow.
00:08You use it all in North right out.
00:10Yeah, I think it's a one-time use, yeah.
00:12The shop's owner says there's been intense interest from customers, particularly women.
00:17I expect a lot and, you know, we've ordered a couple of hundred units of each sizes.
00:22In just two weeks this shop will be one of nine retailers in the NT selling the spray in a 12-month trial.
00:29OC spray presents another opportunity to maintain a distance from someone that is threatening your safety so that you can get away.
00:38This cafe on Catherine's Main Street has experienced frequent break-ins and had its staff attacked.
00:44Sticks, rocks, that's what we're facing. So if I have a pepper spray that I can stand back and spray that and then run.
00:54Nikki Williamson says she'll be encouraging her staff to carry it too.
00:59Hopefully we don't. The average person does not have to use it, but it gives you a sense of safety.
01:09The pepper spray trial has its critics, like the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance, which says it risks fuelling violence rather than preventing it.
01:18The Chief Minister says she's asked Neighbourhood Watch to include the use of the spray in self-defence courses.
01:25But unlike police, members of the public won't be required to do any training.
01:30No, there won't be training rolled out to the general public.
01:33The training that police undergo is to deal with the effects of OC spray and fighting through OC spray if it's taken off us.
01:41The difference between the general public OC spray and the police OC spray is the strength that's available.
01:48A community reference group has been set up to give feedback on the trial.
01:52Its chair encouraging potential customers to read the police website.
01:57We would encourage people to make sure that they really think about it before they deploy this particular item.
02:02The trial begins on the 1st of September.
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