QLD police trial of weapon search powers extended after 800 charges laid

A trial of new police search powers that has led to hundreds of people being charged for carrying a weapon will be extended in this state.

The Queensland government will extend a trial to easily detect weapons in all party precincts as part of a crackdown on knife crime across the state.

It comes after a successful Gold Coast trial led to the seizure of hundreds of weapons, including machetes and knives.

Over the last 18 months, more than 18,000 people have been searched with a metal-detection wand.

More than 18,000 people were searched in an 18-month trial. Picture: Supplied

Of these, about 1 per cent of searches – 212 – resulted in the location of a weapon.

In all, 811 charges were laid against 535 people.

“It is about sending a message and the message is, ‘Don’t carry knives in a public place’,” Queensland Police Inspector Jim Munckton said.

“With these wanding powers, we are able to stop you without suspicion and we will locate those knives and you will be prosecuted.”

The trial allowed officers to randomly stop and scan people with wands in the region’s safe night precincts.

The wanding powers have been extended another 12 months. Picture: Supplied

Inspector Munckton said the results had been “fairly consistent” over the eighteen month operation.

“We don’t find a whole heap of weapons but we consistently do find weapons,” he said.

Trams, buses, trains and ferries, as well as public transport stations, will also be included in the new trial.

Originally published as QLD police trial of weapon search powers extended after 800 charges laid