Transit officers

Transit officers patrol the bus network in Darwin and Palmerston areas.

The network includes buses, bus stops, bus interchanges and bus zones.

They ensure the safety and security of passengers and bus drivers. They also provide customer service to passengers.

Read more about these services in the Transit Safety Unit customer service charter PDF (672.3 KB).

Role and responsibilities

A transit officer can:

• direct a person to leave and/or stay away from the bus network and use reasonable force if necessary
• ask for a person's name, address and date of birth if they believe the person:
  • may have committed an offence
  • can assist in the investigation of an offence
• direct a person to follow the rules of behaviour on a bus
• issue on-the-spot fines and banning notices
• carry capsicum spray as a form of deterrence and self-defence, and to help protect passengers.
• arrest and detain a person (without warrant) if they believe on reasonable grounds the person has committed an offence warranting arrest
• search and seize dangerous articles from an arrested person
• search for, seize and tip out liquor on a bus network.

For more information about what a transit officer can do, read the Public Transport (Passenger Safety) Act 2008.

Find out how to become a transit officer.

Body worn cameras

Transit officers also use body worn cameras when performing their duties on the bus network.

They’re used to improve the safety of passengers and bus drivers, and help investigate incidents.

For more information, read the transit safety body worn camera policy on the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) website.

Complaints and feedback

If you want to give feedback or make a complaint, you can use the online feedback form on the DIPL website.

To find out how complaints are handled, read the Transit Safety Unit public complaints handling policy on the DIPL website.