Police crackdown on knife-crime as metal detector wands roll out in Townsville

Police armed with metal detector wands are preparing to hit the streets of Townsville’s party precinct in a bid to crack down on knife crime. Find out more about the new police powers.

Police armed with metal detector wands are preparing to hit the streets of Townsville’s party precinct in a bid to crack down on knife crime.

Police will have greater powers to search people at random for weapons in Safe Night Precinct across the state including Townsville after the historic “Jack’s Law” passed in state parliament on Thursday.

The laws were introduced following a spate of stabbing deaths in Queensland, including the horrific stabbing death of 17-year-old Jack Beasley on the Gold Coast in 2019.

A number of disturbing knife-related crimes have also rocked Townsville over the years including the death of Kayla Golding, 29, who was found in a pool of blood after being fatally stabbed in the neck in 2021.

The public was also left reeling after a 20-year-old man was stabbed four times in the middle of Vincent Shopping Centre last July.

Officers on the Gold Coast have already been using the new powers to undertake random searches using detection wands under a trial which resulted in the seizure of a disturbing amount of weapons.

An example of the weapons police have seized during the wanding trial in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Supplied

While Jack’s Law was being debated, multiple members of the LNP pushed for an amendment for the two-year trial extension to instead be signed into law permanently.

The Palaszczuk government argued the ‘extraordinary’ police powers, which were world-first, needed to be tested in different jurisdictions to ensure they were working correctly before being made permanent.

The amendment was voted down.

During debate, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said more lives would be saved through the extension of the trial.

“I again thank Belinda and Brett Beasley for their advocacy. I hope they consider that this bill in Jack’s name is a fitting tribute to their son.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler – who has been instrumental in pushing the wand trial – said “wanding has proven to be a very effective proactive initiative for police to prevent violent crimes in Surfers Paradise”.

“Throughout the trial we have seen hundreds of dangerous weapons being detected and taken off our streets,” he said.

“There is absolutely no reason why a law-abiding citizen needs to arm themselves with knives, knuckle dusters or screw drivers as we have seen on the Gold Coast.

“Police conducting wanding in certain areas sends a very clear message to anyone contemplating taking a weapon into a public place that it is an offence and you will likely be caught.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler Picture: Jerad Williams

Acting Police Minister Mark Furner said it was a vital step in cementing the important change.

“This is all about community safety, and Public Hearings of this nature provide committee members the opportunity to drill down into the details of the Bill and make the recommendations needed to meet community expectations,” he said.

“We welcome any recommendations following the committee.

“The Palaszczuk Government is always looking at ways to improve community safety, and Jack’s Law will not only give Queenslanders using our rail networks and going into Safe Night Precincts peace of mind, but we firmly believe it will reduce knife crime and save lives.

“We will always work with the QPS and other agencies and organisations, including the Beasley Foundation, to keep crime off our streets.”

Founders of the Beasley Foundation, Brett and Belinda Beasley, continue their dedication to educate young people about the dangers of knife crime.

“Jack’s Law is about child safety and it’s about keeping all our kids, and the wider community safe,” Mr Beasley said.

“I think every single Queensland parent should be right beside us in doing this. At the end of the day, we just want to keep our kids safe.

“I’m hoping Jack’s Law will clean up these knives and stop these kids carrying weapons.”

Originally published as Police crackdown on knife-crime as metal detector wands roll out in Townsville