Dozens of revellers searched as part of Safe Nights Precinct crack down

Police carrying metal detecting wands will be a common sight in the Toowoomba CBD, after the Queensland Government gave officers extra powers to search suspects. Here’s how it will work.

More than 20 revellers were stopped and searched by police in the Toowoomba’s CBD at the weekend, as officers took part in a statewide rollout of metal detecting wands.

The devices will become common on Toowoomba’s streets after the Queensland Government expanded the police designated areas where officers can conduct scanning activity.

They can now be used to search for weapons in Safe Night Precincts along with on trains, trams, buses and ferries and at public transport hubs.

The Toowoomba rollout coincided with operations in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Logan, Airlie Beach and Capricornia.

Darling Downs City Patrol Group Inspector Paul James said more than 20 people were searched over Friday and Saturday night without incident.

“We will be wanding patrons regularly in the safe night precinct,” he said.

It was a big weekend in the city with large crowds at both Meatstock and the Red Hot Summer Tour in Queens Park.

Insp James said the crowds at both events were well-behaved.

“Meatstock was sold out and it had a bigger attendance than we expected with heaps of campers there,” he said.

“There was a great atmosphere in the crowd

“The concert was the same with perfect conditions.

Police were called to one fight near the Tatts Hotel where an officer was struck in the head while attempting to separate the brawlers.

They were issued with on the spot fines for public nuisance.

Meanwhile, an Ipswich weapons sweep at the weekend resulted in police searching 35 people and recovering three knives, one machete and a set of knuckle dusters.

The expanded powers, dubbed Jack’s Law, come after the stabbing death of 17-year-old Jack Beasley in 2019 and started with a handheld metal detectors trial at the Gold Coast.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler said there would be a focus on public transport.

“Anyone who brings a weapon of any description onto public transport should expect to be approached by police,” he said.

“While we expect to detect people carrying weapons and remove them from harm’s way, we also want to deter people from carrying knives and other weapons in the first place.

“We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the trial on the Gold Coast and we look forward to rolling out these measures across the state in all Safe Night Precincts and on public transport vehicles and at public transport hubs.”

Originally published as Dozens of revellers searched as part of Safe Nights Precinct crack down