{"id":"private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998","name":"PRIVATE SECURITY (SECURITY FIRMS) REGULATIONS 1998","slug":"private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":177121,"registerId":"nt-private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"PRIVATE SECURITY (SECURITY FIRMS) REGULATIONS 1998","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nPRIVATE SECURITY (SECURITY FIRMS) REGULATIONS 1998\nAs in force at 25 March 2024\nTable of provisions\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Disqualifying offences ...................................................................... 1\n4 Information to be provided by applicant ........................................... 2\n5 Fees ................................................................................................ 2\n6 Offences .......................................................................................... 4\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 25 March 2024\n____________________\nPRIVATE SECURITY (SECURITY FIRMS) REGULATIONS 1998\nRegulations under the Private Security Act 1995\n1 Citation\nThese Regulations may be cited as the Private Security\n(Security Firms) Regulations 1998.\n2 Disqualifying offences\nFor the definition of disqualifying offence in section 3 of the Act,\nthe following offences are prescribed in relation to a security firm's\nlicence:\n(a) an offence against section 69, 156, 160, 165, 166, 177, 181,\n182, 186, 188(2), 188A, 189A, 189, 193, 193B, 194, 195, 196,\n208H, 208HA, 208HB, 208J, 208JA, 208JB, 208JC, 208JD,\n208JE, 208JF, 208JG, 218, 226, 228AH, 228AK, 228AO,\n228C, 228D, 228E, 236B, 243(1) or 260 of the Criminal Code;\n(b) an offence against section 188(1) of the Criminal Code where\na circumstance of aggravation as specified in subsection (2)\nexists;\n(c) an offence against section 217 of the Criminal Code where a\ncustodial sentence is imposed that is wholly or partially\nserved;\n(ca) an offence against section 132, 188(2)(k), 192 or 192B of the\nCriminal Code as in force before the commencement of Part 2\nof the Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual\nOffences) Act 2023;\n(cb) an offence against section 211, 212, 227, 228, 229, 231 or\n233 of the Criminal Code as in force before the\ncommencement of the Criminal Code Amendment (Property\nOffences) Act 2022;\n\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations 1998 2\n(cc) an offence against section 210 of the Criminal Code as in\nforce before the commencement of the Criminal Code\nAmendment (Property Offences) Act 2022 in relation to which\na custodial sentence is imposed that is wholly or partially\nserved;\n(d) an offence against section 59, 61, 63A, 74, 77, 82, 83, 84, 85\nor 86 of the Firearms Act 1997;\n(e) an offence against Part II, Division 1 of the Misuse of Drugs\nAct 1990;\n(f) an offence against section 6, 7, 8 or 9 of the Weapons Control\nAct 2001;\n(g) an offence against a law of the Commonwealth where the\npenalty for the offence is imprisonment for 2 years or more.\n4 Information to be provided by applicant\nFor the purposes of section 14(5) of the Act, the following\ninformation is prescribed in relation to an application for a security\nfirm's licence:\n(a) 2 identical current passport-sized photographs; and\n(b) the fingerprints of, where the applicant is:\n(i) a natural person – the applicant;\n(ii) a partnership – each partner in the partnership; or\n(iii) a corporation – each officer, within the meaning of\nsection 17(1) of the Act, of the corporation.\n5 Fees\n(1) For section 18(6) of the Act, the fee for granting a security firm's\nlicence is:\n(a) if the applicant is a natural person:\n(i) 620 revenue units – if the licence is granted for one year;\nor\n(ii) 930 revenue units – if the licence is granted for 2 years;\nor\n(iii) 1 096 revenue units – if the licence is granted for\n3 years; or\n\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations 1998 3\n(b) if the applicant is a partnership:\n(i) 620 revenue units for each partner – if the licence is\ngranted for one year; or\n(ii) 930 revenue units for each partner – if the licence is\ngranted for 2 years; or\n(iii) 1 096 revenue units for each partner – if the licence is\ngranted for 3 years; or\n(c) if the applicant is a corporation:\n(i) 1 239 revenue units – if the licence is granted for\none year; or\n(ii) 1 794 revenue units – if the licence is granted for\n2 years; or\n(iii) 2 143 revenue units – if the licence is granted for\n3 years.\n(2) For section 24(2) of the Act, the fee for renewing a security firm's\nlicence is:\n(a) if the applicant is a natural person:\n(i) 620 revenue units – if the licence is renewed for\none year; or\n(ii) 930 revenue units – if the licence is renewed for 2 years;\nor\n(iii) 1 096 revenue units – if the licence is renewed for\n3 years; or\n(b) if the applicant is a partnership:\n(i) 620 revenue units for each partner – if the licence is\nrenewed for one year; or\n(ii) 930 revenue units for each partner – if the licence is\nrenewed for 2 years; or\n(iii) 1 096 revenue units for each partner – if the licence is\nrenewed for 3 years; or\n(c) if the applicant is a corporation:\n(i) 1 239 revenue units – if the licence is renewed for\none year; or\n\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations 1998 4\n(ii) 1 794 revenue units – if the licence is renewed for\n2 years; or\n(iii) 2 143 revenue units – if the licence is renewed for\n3 years.\n(3) For section 25(1A) of the Act, the fee is 30 revenue units.\n6 Offences\n(1) A security firm must not engage in the business of supplying, for\nreward, the services of crowd controllers or security officers unless\nthe firm has the licences and permits required by a law in force in\nthe Territory to engage in the business.\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n(2) A security firm must not later than 30 days after changing its\naddress notify the Director of its new address.\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n(3) A security firm must ensure that a register of security officers,\ncontaining accurate records of information referred to in\nsubregulation (5), is kept in a manner approved by the Director.\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n(4) An employer must permit an inspector to examine the register kept\nunder subregulation (3).\nMaximum penalty: 20 penalty units.\n(5) For subregulation (3), the information that must be kept by a\nsecurity firm is:\n(a) the name and residential address of each security officer\nemployed by it; and\n(b) the number assigned by the Director to the security officer's\nlicence; and\n(c) for each day on which the security officer provides his or her\nservices as a security officer, the number assigned to the\nsecurity officer by the security firm; and\n(d) the date of, and details in relation to, each incident in which\nphysical force was used by or against the security officer while\nthe security officer was providing his or her services as a\nsecurity officer.\n\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations 1998 5\n(6) In this regulation:\nsecurity firm means a person who, or partnership that, is the\nholder of security firm licence.\nsecurity officer means a person who is the holder of\n(a) a security officer's provisional licence; or\n(b) a security officer's licence.\n\nENDNOTES\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations 1998 6\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations (SL No. 29, 1998)\nNotified 4 August 1998\nCommenced 4 August 1998\nCriminal Code Amendment (Criminal Responsibility Reform) Act 2005 (Act No. 37,\n2005)\nAssent date 22 November 2005\nCommenced 20 December 2006 (Gaz G51, 20 December 2006, p 2)\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Amendment Regulations 2006 (SL No. 3, 2006)\nNotified 15 February 2006\nCommenced 15 February 2006\nTreasury Legislation Amendment (Revenue Units) Regulations 2006 (SL No. 33, 2006)\nNotified 18 October 2006\nCommenced 18 October 2006\nStatute Law Revision Act 2007 (Act No. 4, 2007)\nAssent date 8 March 2007\nCommenced 8 March 2007\nBusiness Names Act 2007 (Act No. 1, 2007)\nAssent date 8 March 2007\nCommenced 22 August 2007 (Gaz G34, 22 August 2007, p 7)\nFees and Charges Amendment Regulations 2009 (SL No. 34, 2009)\nNotified 14 December 2009\nCommenced 1 January 2010 (r 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations 1998 7\nBusiness Names (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2012 (Act No. 8,\n2012)\nAssent date 27 April 2012\nCommenced pts 3 and 4: 28 May 2012 (Cth proclamation F2012L00891:\n19 April 2012) ; rem: 27 April 2012 (s 2)\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Amendment Regulations 2013 (SL No. 9, 2013)\nNotified 29 May 2013\nCommenced 29 May 2013\nCriminal Code Amendment (Identity Crime) Act 2014 (Act No. 9, 2014)\nAssent date 16 April 2014\nCommenced 1 July 2014 (Gaz S52, 1 July 2014)\nLicensing (Repeals and Consequential Amendments) Act 2014 (Act No. 44, 2014)\nAssent date 5 December 2014\nCommenced 1 January 2015 (Gaz S130, 19 December 2014, p 2)\nJustice Legislation Amendment (Drug Offences) Act 2016 (Act No. 17, 2016)\nAssent date 8 June 2016\nCommenced s 17 (to ext ins new s 15): 10 October 2016;\nrem: 18 July 2016 (Gaz S67, 18 July 2016)\nPrivate Security Legislation Amendment Regulations 2017 (SL No. 37, 2017)\nNotified 29 November 2017\nCommenced 29 November 2017\nLicensing (Director-General) Repeal Act 2020 (Act No. 4, 2020)\nAssent date 9 March 2020\nCommenced 14 April 2020 (Gaz G13, 1 April 2020, p 2)\nCriminal Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 2023 (Act No. 20, 2023)\nAssent date 17 August 2023\nCommenced 25 March 2024 (Gaz S20, 22 March 2024)\nJustice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Act No. 4, 2024)\nAssent date 14 March 2024\nCommenced pt 5, div 1: 30 October 2023 (s 2(2));\npt 3, div 2: 25 March 2024 (s 2(3), s 2 Sentencing and Other\nLegislation Amendment Act 2022 (Act No. 28, 2022) and\nGaz S19, 22 March 2024); pt 4: 25 March 2024 (s 2(4), s 2\nCriminal Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences)\nAct 2023 (Act No. 20, 2023) and Gaz S20, 22 March 2024);\nrem: 15 March 2024 (s 2(1))\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: rr 1 and 2.\n\nENDNOTES\nPrivate Security (Security Firms) Regulations 1998 8\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nr 2 sub No. 3, 2006, r 3\namd Act No. 4, 2007, s 2; Act No. 9, 2014, s 17; Act No. 44, 2014, s 145; Act\nNo. 17, 2016, s 46; No. 37, 2017, r 6; Act No. 20, 2023, s 54; Act No. 4, 2024,\ns 82\nr 3 rep Act No. 44, 2014, s 145\nr 5 sub No. 3, 2006, r 4\namd No. 33, 2006, r 5; No. 34, 2009, r 10; No. 9, 2013, r 3\nr 6 ins No. 3, 2006, r 4\namd No. 33, 2006, r 5; Act No. 44, 2014, s 145: Act No. 4, 2020, s 87\nsch amd Act No. 37, 2005, s. 21\nsub No. 3, 2006, r 5\namd Act No. 4, 2007, s 2; Act No. 1, 2007, s 76; Act No. 8, 2012, s 30; Act\nNo. 9, 2014, s 18\nrep Act No. 44, 2014, s 145","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations have expanded significantly from their original 1998 scope. Originally focused on basic licensing and fees, they now incorporate: (1) complex historical offence tracking to capture pre-reform criminal conduct; (2) detailed record-keeping requirements for security officer registers and incident reporting added in 2006; (3) fingerprinting requirements for corporate officers and partners; and (4) ongoing amendments to track changes in multiple related Acts (Criminal Code, Firearms Act, drug laws). The disqualifying offences list has grown from a simple reference to a complex matrix of current and historical offences across five different Acts."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-referencing to external legislation (Criminal Code, Firearms Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Weapons Control Act) with specific section numbers that have changed over time","Multiple historical versions of offences preserved through 'as in force before' clauses to capture pre-amendment conduct","Nested conditional fee structure with three variables: business structure (natural person/partnership/corporation), licence duration (1/2/3 years), and application type (new vs renewal)","27 amendments tracked since 1998, requiring readers to consult amendment history to understand current provisions","Defined terms scattered across regulations (some in Regulation 6, others implied through Act references)","Revenue units mechanism requires external knowledge of current unit value to calculate actual dollar amounts"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set the rules for security companies operating in the Northern Territory. They work alongside the Private Security Act 1995 to determine who can run a security firm, how much they must pay for licences, and what records they must keep.\n\n**Key requirements:**\n\n* **Who can get a licence:** The regulations list specific criminal offences that will disqualify someone from holding a security firm licence. These include serious crimes like assault, sexual offences, drug trafficking, firearms offences, and any Commonwealth offence carrying 2+ years imprisonment. The list has been updated over time to capture historical versions of offences before recent law reforms.\n\n* **What applicants must provide:** Security firms must submit passport photos and fingerprints. For partnerships, every partner must provide fingerprints. For corporations, every officer (director or company secretary) must provide them.\n\n* **Fees:** Licence fees are calculated in \"revenue units\" (a standard NT fee measurement that adjusts with inflation). Costs vary by business structure and licence duration:\n  * **Individuals:** 620–1,096 revenue units depending on 1–3 year term\n  * **Partnerships:** Per-partner fees (same rates as individuals)\n  * **Corporations:** 1,239–2,143 revenue units depending on term\n  * **Renewals:** Same fee structure as new licences\n  * **Duplicate licences:** 30 revenue units\n\n* **Operating rules:** Security firms must:\n  * Hold proper licences and permits before supplying crowd controllers or security officers\n  * Notify the Director within 30 days of address changes\n  * Maintain a register of all security officers including their licence numbers, daily assignment numbers, and details of any incidents involving physical force\n  * Allow inspectors to examine these registers\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese regulations ensure security companies are run by people of good character, pay appropriate fees for oversight, and maintain accountability through detailed record-keeping. This protects the public by ensuring security personnel are properly supervised and incidents are documented.\n\n**Penalties:** Breaching operating rules carries fines of up to 20 penalty units (a standard fine amount set by NT law)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain focused on licensing standards for security firms: defining disqualifying offences, specifying application materials, setting fees, and imposing recordkeeping and notification duties. Amendments over time have updated the list of disqualifying offences to reflect changes in the Criminal Code and other statutes, adjusted fee amounts and introduced/clarified compliance offences and recordkeeping. Those are iterative alignments to maintain regulatory effect and enforceability rather than a material broadening of the regulations’ original subject matter or purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Six substantive regulations (rr 1–6) with concentrated provisions on disqualification, application content, fees and offences/recordkeeping.","Regulation 2 lists over 40 cross-referenced Criminal Code sections and several historic versions of provisions, producing significant legal cross-referencing and interpretive work.","Tiered fee schedule (reg 5) with 3 licence durations (1, 2, 3 years) and 3 applicant types (natural person, partnership—calculated per partner, corporation), plus an additional fixed 30 revenue unit fee.","Multiple external cross-references to other Acts (Criminal Code, Firearms Act 1997, Misuse of Drugs Act 1990, Weapons Control Act 2001) and to amending Acts (several listed in endnotes).","Conditional disqualification logic (for example, where custodial sentences are wholly or partially served, or where an aggravating circumstance exists) increases interpretive complexity (reg 2(b), (c), (cc)).","Recordkeeping rules require daily assignment numbers and incident details and must be kept in a manner approved by the Director, creating administrative discretion and practical compliance choices (reg 6(3),(5)).","Penalties and fees are expressed in 'penalty units' and 'revenue units' whose monetary values are set outside these regulations, requiring cross-checking with other instruments.","Amendment history (multiple amendments since 1998) and references to offences 'as in force before the commencement' of later Acts add historical complexity when applying the rule to past convictions."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- Prescribes which criminal offences will disqualify a person or entity from holding a security firm licence (see reg 2).\n- Specifies the documents and biometric data applicants must supply with an application for a security firm licence: two identical passport-sized photos and fingerprints for the relevant persons (reg 4).\n- Sets the licence grant and renewal fees for security firms, with different fee scales depending on whether the applicant is an individual, a partnership (per partner) or a corporation and depending on whether the licence is issued for 1, 2 or 3 years (reg 5). A small fixed fee (30 revenue units) is prescribed for the matter covered by section 25(1A) of the Act (reg 5(3)).\n- Creates offences and compliance duties for licensed security firms: do not operate without required licences/permits; notify the Director of address changes within 30 days; keep an approved register of security officers recording specified items (name, residential address, Director-assigned licence number, the firm’s daily assignment number for each officer, and details of any incidents involving physical force); and allow inspectors to examine that register. Each breach attracts a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units (reg 6).\n- Defines, for the purposes of the regulation, who counts as a ‘security firm’ and a ‘security officer’ (reg 6(6)).\n\nOfficial rationale stated in the instrument\n\n- The regulation’s stated function is to support the Private Security Act 1995 by setting practical rules for licensing (who is disqualified), application content (photos, fingerprints), the fees payable for grant and renewal, and minimum compliance/recordkeeping standards for firms.\n\nTesting that rationale against costs, incentives and implementation mechanics\n\n- Who pays: Applicants and licence-holders. Fees are imposed on individuals, partnerships (calculated per partner) and corporations, with corporate fees higher in absolute terms (reg 5). The immediate fiscal burden falls on firms seeking entry or renewal.\n\n- Administrative and compliance costs: Applicants must provide fingerprints and photos (reg 4), and firms must maintain a Director-approved register with daily assignment numbers and incident reports (reg 6(3), (5)). These are ongoing recordkeeping costs and require secure handling of personal data (privacy and storage costs). Inspections are permitted (reg 6(4)), so firms must be prepared for regulatory review.\n\n- Enforcement and deterrence incentives: The extensive list of prescribed disqualifying offences (reg 2) — drawn from many Criminal Code sections and other Acts — raises the legal threshold for who may hold a licence. That raises the barrier for persons with relevant criminal histories (including some historic offence versions), which supports the stated safety/compliance aim but also reduces the eligible labour pool.\n\n- Behavioural effects and substitution risks: Higher fees and compliance burdens may favor larger, better-capitalised firms over very small operators (corporations pay larger flat fees; partnerships pay per partner) and could incentivise some activity to move outside the licenced market if margins are thin. The register requirements and the ban on operating without requisite permits (reg 6(1)) increase the cost of operating marginal enterprises.\n\n- Decision-making and discretion: The Director has approval power over the manner of keeping the register and assigns licence numbers (reg 6(3), (5)(b)). That introduces administrative discretion into how recordkeeping must be performed and how licence numbers are allocated.\n\n- Legal complexity and compliance risk: Reg 2 cross-refers to many Criminal Code sections and to historical versions of sections as they stood before particular amending Acts. That can make it harder for applicants and firms to confirm whether a past offence continues to be a disqualifier without checking legislative history.\n\n- Fiscal detail left to other instruments: Fees and penalties are expressed in \"revenue units\" and \"penalty units\" (reg 5, reg 6). The monetary value of those units is set elsewhere and may change over time, so the actual dollar cost to applicants is not fixed in these regulations.\n\nWho decides, who bears the costs, and what changes in behaviour\n\n- Who decides: The Director (under the Act) administers licence grants, assigns licence numbers, and approves the register format (regs 4, 6). Criminal convictions and sentences that trigger disqualification are determined by courts under the referenced offences (reg 2).\n\n- Who bears the cost: Applicants/license-holders pay application and renewal fees; they must also bear compliance costs for fingerprinting, photos, data storage, reporting incidents and allowing inspections.\n\n- What behaviour will change: Some individuals will be screened out by disqualifying offences; firms will adjust recordkeeping systems to meet Director-approved formats; some marginal operators may choose not to enter or to exit the licenced market due to fees and compliance costs.\n\nPractical notes on interpretation and operation\n\n- The regulation frequently refers to offence provisions as they existed before particular amendment Acts (see reg 2(ca), (cb), (cc)). That means whether an historical conviction is a disqualifier can require checking the relevant amending act and commencement dates.\n- \"Revenue units\" and \"penalty units\" are monetary measures governed by other Northern Territory instruments; their dollar equivalents change over time, so check the current rates when budgeting for fees and penalties (reg 5, reg 6).\n\nPrimary provisions cited: reg 2 (disqualifying offences), reg 4 (information required), reg 5 (fees), reg 6 (offences, registers, definitions)."},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations were made in 1998 but have been reprinted at least three times (Reprint No. REPP062R3), indicating amendments have been made over the 26-year period to the current commencement date of 25 March 2024. This strongly suggests the scope or detail of the regulations has evolved from their original form, though the document provided does not contain enough substantive content to identify specific changes."},"complexity_factors":["Regulations operate as subordinate legislation (secondary law) beneath a parent Act, requiring readers to understand both documents together","Industry-specific licensing framework with multiple categories of persons affected (firms, individuals, clients)","Administrative and procedural requirements typical of licensing regimes can involve multi-step processes","The document as provided contains almost no substantive content — actual complexity of the full regulations cannot be properly assessed","Reprint number (REPP062R3) suggests multiple amendments over time, meaning the current version may differ significantly from the original 1998 text"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out how private security firms must operate—covering licensing, training and conduct standards, record-keeping, fees, and when licences can be refused, suspended or cancelled. They affect security businesses, their workers, clients who hire them, and the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations as regulator.\n\nNote: the supplied document contains little substantive text; this summary is based on the instrument’s title and context."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998","history":"/api/acts/private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998/history","analysis":"/api/acts/private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/private-security-security-firms-regulations-1998/documents"}}