Five weapons have been seized and more than a dozen people charged on the Gold Coast on the first day of expanded police powers relating to the ability to search people for knives.
Gold Coast District Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said 17 people were charged with 27 offences during the first day of Jack’s Law wanding operations in local shopping centres yesterday.
Chief Superintendent Hanlon said the co-ordinated action involved strategic wanding operations across eight shopping centres at Southport, Broadbeach, Helensvale, Coomera, Miami, Robina, Pacific Pines and Biggera Waters.
“Over the course of the operations 274 people were subject to metal detection scans, including 161 adults and 113 young people,” he said.
Chief Superintendent Hanlon said the results were an indication of the impact the expansion to Jack’s Law would have in enhancing community safety.
“The seizure of five weapons in just a matter of hours shows how crucial Jack’s Law is in helping police reduce knife violence in our community,” he said.
“The response across our first day of wanding operations in shopping centres was overwhelmingly positive.”
