Laws empowering police to search for concealed weapons extended to Bundaberg

The Jack’s Law powers allowing police to search for concealed weapons without a warrant have been extended to Bundaberg. Here’s what you need to know.

Police are now empowered to conduct wanding operations in Bundaberg’s Safe Night Precinct.

Police in Bundaberg will now be able to search people for concealed weapons following the extension of “Jack’s Law” powers across Queensland, with the change coming amid concerns of a rise in people carrying “novelty” knives.

The new powers enable police to conduct wanding operations, in which officers search the public for concealed weapons with a handheld scanner in Safe Night Precincts and in public transport areas, without requiring a warrant.

The legislation underpinning the wanding operations is named after Jack Beasley, who was stabbed outside a Surfers Paradise convenience store as a 17-year-old in 2019.

100+ photos: Winners, grinners from Showjumping Championships

Wanding operations were trialled on the Gold Coast for 12 months starting May 2021.

11,775 people were searched during the trial, resulting in 336 being charged with 467 offences and the seizure of 242 weapons.

The new law empowers police to search for concealed weapons using a handheld scanner.

QPS informed a parliamentary committee evaluating the trial the seized weapons included folding knives, machetes, a tomahawk, sharpened screwdrivers and tasers.

The Queensland parliament extended the trial to Safe Night Precincts and public transport areas throughout the state by amending the law in a parliamentary sitting on Thursday, March 30.

Bundaberg has a Safe Night Precinct extending from Mclean St to Toonburra Sat, and Woondooma St to Quay St and the park on the bank of the Burnett River.

Bundaberg has a Safe Night Precinct extending from Mclean St to Toonburra Sat, and Woondooma St to Quay St and the park on the bank of the Burnett River.

The first extension of wanding operations outside the Gold Coast following the Jack’s Law amendment will be in Toowoomba and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane on Saturday, April 6.

QPS confirmed that police are undergoing training in the exercise of the new powers, but did not provide any details on wanding operations planned for Bundaberg.

Woman’s face-slashing glassing of stranger ends in jail

“Police in our districts are undergoing specific training and will use the new powers judiciously,” a QPS spokesman said.

“Officers will engage with members of the public and clearly communicate what they need to do to comply with these laws.

“We will engage with districts across the state in relation to the new powers and liaise with all stakeholders including other government agencies.”

When speaking in parliament in support of the bill, Bundaberg MP Tom Smith said although there is not a problem with knife crime in the region, he has heard from local publicans that there is an increase in patrons carrying “novelty” knives concealed in wristbands or belt buckles.

According to QPS data, there have been 19 Weapons Act offences in Bundaberg Central in the past year, a small increase from 15 offences in the previous year.

Rodney Wheat, owner of The Club Hotel in Bundaberg Central, said while his pub’s security guards check carefully for knives when doing bag searches, it is difficult to find the “novelty” knives mentioned by Mr Smith.

“The boys are extra careful looking for those sorts of things, but the things are so concealed now it‘s really hard to check them all the time,” he said.

Mr Wheat welcomes the extension of the Jack’s Law legislation to Bundaberg as empowering police to improve public safety.

Rodney Wheat owner of The Club Hotel in Bundaberg Central welcomes the new powers.

“It’s good that the police have got the power to do (wanding operations), it’s very handy,” he said.

“We’ve always been big on security – we want to our patrons to have a good time in a safe environment.”

The “novelty” knives are reportedly sold in local adventure equipment stores, as well as online.

Local adventure equipment stores contacted in the region denied having them in stock.

Mr Smith encouraged local businesses to sell goods that are within the expectations of the general public.

“All businesses have responsibility to sell products will make the standard of the majority of consumers,” he said.

“Ultimately any products businesses choose to sell is their decision.”

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith has heard from local publicans that there is an increase in patrons carrying ‘novelty’ knives concealed in wristbands or belt buckles.

During the Gold Coast phase of the trial, QPS co-ordinated with Gold Coast City Council to have the Council’s CCTV cameras directed at all wanding operations to provide oversight and a record of all interactions.

Bundaberg Regional Council has been contacted to confirm whether QPS has been in contact regarding similar co-ordination of the Council’s CCTV cameras.

In a review of the trial Griffith Criminology Institute found that young males and First Nations peoples may have been overrepresented in the cohort selected by police for wanding.

The institute recommended that QPS provide training and evidence-based guidelines to help ensure officers avoid stereotyping in wanding operations.

QPS did not confirm whether the recommended training or evidence-based guidelines have or will be provided to Bundaberg police.