NSW knife crime penalties doubled under Minns government crack down

A major crackdown on knife crimes in NSW will see significant changes to the maximum penalties handed out. Find out how it will work.

Penalties for certain knife crimes will be doubled, with the Minns government moving to crack down on an increase in young offenders taking knives to school.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that police seized almost 300 knives during a two day operation last month.

As part of that operation, NSW Police officers raided four stores at Parklea markets, seizing 238 knives, 10 swords and other prohibited weapons.

Under legislation to be introduced to parliament on Tuesday, the maximum penalty for carrying a knife in a public place or school will double to four years’ imprisonment, a $4,400 fine, or both.

Offenders convicted of wielding a knife in a public place will face a maximum fine of $11,000.

Police confiscated multiple knives at Parklea Markets during Operation Foil. Picture: NSW Police

The legislation will move both offences from the Summary Offences Act into the Crimes Act.

The crackdown comes after an increase in knife-related crime, particularly involving young people.

The Daily Telegraph last year exposed an escalating crisis of youth violence in its groundbreaking documentary video series The War: Young Blood.

The maximum penalty for carrying a knife in a public place or school will double to four years’ imprisonment, a $4,400 fine, or both. Picture: NSW Police

Last month’s raid on stores at the markets was executed by officers attached to Operation Kella, which aims to disrupt and de-escalate youth violence.

The 294 knives seized as part of the most recent Operation Foil add to the 7,761 knives seized by police in the two years to April 1.

Attorney-General Michael Daley said the new offences strike the “right balance” between sending a message to offenders without being “overly punitive”.

“The tougher maximum penalty will send a strong message about the gravity of knife-related crime,” Attorney-General Michael Daley said.


“The government is acting to address understandable community concern given the high-profile tragic events involving knives that we have seen in NSW over the last couple of years.”

“We want to ensure that people in the community are safe and feel safe,” he said.

Diversion mechanisms for young people or first-time minor offenders will remain in place, and fines will still be able to be issued to an adult for a first offence.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Adam Yip

Premier Chris Minns first proposed a knife crime crackdown in December last year.

It came after the Telegraph revealed that a group of six teenagers had allegedly been attacked by a group – one of who was allegedly wielding a knife – at a Western Sydney train station as they made their way to footy training.

Former Premier Dominic Perrottet last year also called for tougher knife crime penalties.

The reforms come after a 29-year-old paramedic Steven Tougher was killed in a Campbelltown carpark in April.

Police allege 21-year-old Jordan Fineanganofo stabbed Mr Tougher in an “unprovoked” and “horrific” attack outside a McDonald’s restaurant.

Fineanganofo has been charged with murder.

His case has been adjourned to June 28.

NSW paramedic Steven Tougher was killed in a Campbelltown carpark in April.

Uati "Pele" Faletolu was stabbed to death at the Royal Easter Show last year.

In April last year, 17 year old Uati Faletolu died in a stabbing at the Royal Easter Show.

Three people have been charged over the fatal stabbing of Uati and the stabbing of another teenager, during a wild brawl in the carnival ride section of the show.

Two 18-year-olds and a 14-year-old boy were arrested in July following a Homicide Squad investigation by Strike Force Calle.

Both the men and the teenager were charged with murder.

All three individuals remain before the courts.