Trial laws allowing police to conduct random wanding of people in search of knives will become permanent.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said Jack’s Law, named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley, who was murdered in a knifing incident at Surfers Paradise in December 2019, would be included in the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws to be legislated later this year.
Premier Crisafulli said the 100,000th scan under Jack’s Law, which allowed police to use handheld metal detectors without a warrant, was conducted over the weekend.
“This milestone wouldn’t have happened without the tireless work of (Jack’s parents) Brett and Belinda Beasley, their local MP Sam O’Connor and a determined Gold Coast community who have driven change from tragedy.”
Queensland Police Service Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said police were committed to combatting knife crime throughout the state.
“By scanning for, detecting, and removing dangerous weapons from Queensland streets, police aim to reduce the harm these weapons cause in the community and educate the public on the risks of unlawfully carrying a weapon,” Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.
“In just under two years, we’ve taken more than 900 weapons off the streets during wanding operations.”
He said across Queensland, police had now scanned more than more 100,000 people, resulting in more than 4800 offences, which were mostly weapons and drug related.
Mr Beasley said he and his wife were proud to see Jack’s legacy living on.
“We lost our son at the hands of violent criminals and by making Jack’s Law permanent to eliminate knives from our streets can and will save lives,” he said.
