By Natalie Gauld, Managing Editor of Proctor
Police wanding laws will be made permanent in Queensland this year as part of the Making Queensland Safer Laws.
Known as Jack’s Law, the legislation was named in honour of teenager Jack Beasley who was stabbed and killed on the Gold Coast in 2019 while on a night out with friends.
The laws allow police to use handheld metal detectors without a warrant in shopping and retail centres, sporting and entertainment venues, safe night precincts, licensed premises and on public transport. Queensland Police conducted the 100,000th scan this month (February) under Jack’s Law. Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said Queensland Police were committed to combatting knife crime throughout the state and keeping our community safe.
“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.”
Since Jack’s Law was introduced in April 2023, 953 weapons have been seized through more than 10,500 wanding operations and police have now scanned more than more 100,000 people, resulting in more than 4800 offences, which were mostly weapons and drug related.
The second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws will also include legislation to create a public sex offender registry.
That legislation will be known as Daniel’s Law in honour of Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe.
