Schoolies 2022: Knife ban as Qld cops ramp up response

Schoolies caught with knives will be banned from the festival and face criminal prosecution as police ramp up their response to the annual rite-of-passage.

Schoolies caught with knives will be banned from the festival and face criminal prosecution as police prepare to ramp up their response to the annual rite-of-passage on the Gold Coast.

Up to 22,000 Year 12 graduates from across Queensland are preparing to descend on Surfers Paradise for the traditional week-long party, ready to blow off steam after spending much of their senior schooling under the spectre of the coronavirus pandemic.

Crowds at last year’s festival were generally well-behaved, but the rise of teenage knife crime - and successful “wanding” trials by police have officers from the QPS on high alert this week.

Schoolies on Gold Coast in 2021. Picture: Jason O'Brien

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon from the South Eastern Police Region said about 130 officers would be on patrol in the party precinct during the festival and wanding - the use of metal detection devices, will be a key part of their safety response.

“My message is don’t (bring a knife),” he said.

“The wanding trial has clearly shown that if you have a knife or a weapon you will be likely to be wanded and there will be prosecution taken.”

Part of that prosecution would involve an immediate ban from the Safe Night Precinct where Schoolies is held.

Schoolies on Gold Coast in 2021. Picture: Jason O'Brien

The wanding trial, dubbed “Jack’s law” in honour of Gold Coast teen Jack Beasley who was stabbed to death in Surfers Paradise three years ago, was recently extended for another two years and expanded from the Gold Coast to all night entertainment zones across Queensland.

Queensland’s week of Schoolies celebrations starts on Saturday night before they pass the baton on to teens from other states the following week.

With many school leavers now aged over 18, there has been speculation the well-oiled machine of the festival itself could become obsolete as more revellers favour the confines of clubs and bars, but Queensland Youth Minister Meaghan Scanlon said

“We will continue to look at that going forward,” she said.

“We‘ll take that year on year based on the numbers that are coming through.

“We also want to make sure we are taking some pressure off some of our existing services.”

Schoolies generates an estimated $30 million for the Gold Coast economy.