Criminologist slams Queensland laws for failing to regulate sale of knives

Queensland’s failure to regulate the sale of knives has been slammed in the wake of horrific Boxing Day home invasion in which Emma Lovell was fatally stabbed.

A criminologist has slammed Queensland’s laws for failing to regulate the sale of knives.

The comments come in the wake of a stabbing at a New Year’s party and the killing of Emma Lovell on Boxing Day.

QUT criminologist Mark Lauch said knives were regularly sold at newsagents, weekend markets and online marketplaces, including Amazon and Gumtree, but current legislation only required sellers to “verify” knives when imported.

On Saturday two youths, 15 and 16, were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being stabbed at a New Year’s party that spilt on to the street in Sunnybank Hills, in Brisbane’s south.

Emma Lovell, pictured with husband Lee Lovell.

In Ms Lovell’s stabbing death, it is unclear whether the botched home invasion at North Lakes was gang-related, but Mr Lauch said gang ­violence across the east coast of Australia is often based on postcode gangs in the United Kingdom.

“That violence led to a number of laws in the UK, including banning the sale of knives and banning the carrying of knives but also the banning of curved swords,” he said.

“In Scotland (the government) even trialled (The Offensive Weapons Act surrender and compensation scheme) – no one could carve a roast for two months because all the kids cashed in their parents’ knives.

“We already have pretty similar laws to the UK – but we haven’t extended it to swords – the carry-over of that into the community is ‘what’s a reasonable excuse to carry a weapon?’ And can you even enforce it?”

A candlelight vigil at Lake Eden, North Lakes to celebrate the life of Emma Lovell. Picture: Richard Walker

According to Queensland’s Weapons Act, a person “must not physically possess a knife in a public place or a school, unless the person has a reasonable excuse”, which does not include self-defence.

Examples of a “reasonable excuse” include: to perform a lawful activity, duty or employment; to participate in a lawful entertainment, recreation or sport; for lawfully exhibiting the knife; or for use in a lawful purpose.

Mr Lauch said that it can be difficult to define a ­Category M weapon, which police say extends to “crossbows, certain knives and other handheld items capable of causing bodily harm”.

The scene of the fatal home invasion in North Lakes.

He said authorities could ban the sale of knives today and very little would change.

“The gangs don’t care about the law and will find a way to get around it, but there would be consequences for the rest of the community,” he said.

“(A buyback scheme) is a well-intentioned policy but it does not address young men forming groups and fighting each other.”

Under the Weapons Act, a knife includes “a thing with a sharpened point or blade that is reasonably capable of (a) being held in one or both hands; and (b) being used to wound or threaten to wound anyone when held in one or both hands”.

Mr Lauch said the sale of US military-grade knives had “no purpose outside of collecting”.