Jack Beasley walk: Brett and Belinda Beasley say more needs to be done to stop knife crime
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There is still a lot more work to be done in order to tackle youth crime, according to the parents of a teen slain in the heart of Surfers Paradise three years ago.
Brett and Belinda Beasley spoke at the annual walk for the Jack Beasley Foundation which is aimed at increasing awareness among teens about the dangers of carrying a knife.
Their son, 17-year-old Jack Beasley, was stabbed outside the Surfers Paradise IGA on December 13, 2019.
Two teens are currently serving prison time over Jack’s death.
On Sunday about 300 people donned green T-shirts and walked four kilometres around the lake at Damian Leeding Memorial Park in order to raise awareness of knife crime.
The Beasley’s have been working closely with police and the state government pushing for changes to be made when tackling youth crime.
Mrs Beasley said: “A lot more needs to be done but it’s moving in the right direction which is a start.
“It’s not something that is going to happen overnight and it’s going to take time.
“We all wish we could click our fingers and be perfect but we are in the real world.”
Mr Beasley said they would keep moving forward.
“Us as parents we want what every other parents want – we want out kids to come home safe.”
Next year the Beasley plan to continue giving talks in schools across Queensland and are looking to expand the program into other states.
The Beasleys were instrumental in establishing in the wanding trial which allows police to use handheld metal detectors to search people in Safe Night Precincts.
They were joined on the walk by Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll.
“From what we have seen already this really makes a difference and the evidence supports this,” she said.
Commissioner Carroll said the education of children at a young age so they are aware of the dangers of knives.
“The important part is having the discussion with young people when they are stopped so they understand why they are being wanded,” she said.
She said anecdotally a lot of teens and young people were already aware of Jack’s story.
Police Minister Mark Ryan, who was also at the walk, said there was no good reason for anyone to have a knife.
The state government recently gave the foundation a $100,000 grant to help continue their work.
Also at the walk was Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, Theodore MP Mark Boothman and councillors William Owen-Jones, Ryan Baildon and Mark Hammel.
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Originally published as Jack Beasley walk: Brett and Belinda Beasley say more needs to be done to stop knife crime
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