NSW police get increased power, wands to fight knife crime in the state’s own version of Jack’s law

Senior police officers will be able to stop and scan individuals in designated areas without a warrant to look for illegal knives, in areas where knife crime has previously occurred.

Police will from today be able to use metal-detecting wands to search for knives in public places such as train stations, shopping centres, sporting venues or late-night entertainment hubs, as NSW’s version of Jacks Law comes into effect.

From today, senior police officers will be able to stop and scan individuals in designated areas without a warrant to look for illegal knives, in areas where knife crime has previously occurred.

NSW has purchased around 120 new metal detector wands to aid them in the extra work.

The new wanding powers can be turned on in areas designated by a senior police officer of the rank of assistant commissioner or higher, and will last for 12 hours.

Officers in areas designated under Jack’s Law will use scanners that are currently in operation at major events.

Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell previously told budget estimates that NSW Police was looking at and buying upgraded scanners.

Supplied image of Queensland Police a metal detecting wand on a member of the public. NSW is set to introduce legislation to Parliament to follow the Queensland model to cut down on knife crime.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said itwould provide officers with more powers. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The new versions purchased are smaller versions of existing metal detectors, and can be clipped on to officers’ belts.

They will be used alongside existing metal detectors currently used for major events.

Premier Chris Minns said the new powers could be “inconvenient” but would ensure public safety. “These new laws, which start this week, are about ensuring the public feels safe, and secondly and perhaps most importantly, to change the culture,” he said.

He said the laws would send a message to young people not to carry knives on a night out, because they could be scanned.

“I have no doubt that these reforms will change lives, because people will think twice about carrying a knife with them,” he said.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the powers would give police more power to confiscate knives before they are used.

NSW Police will be required to publish locations where the wanding powers will be used.

Brett and Belinda Beasley speak to the media at the Supreme Court in Brisbane after the teen convicted of their son Jack’s murder was unsuccessful in the appeal to have the length of his sentence reduced. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The NSW legislation was modelled on Queensland laws championed by Brett and Belinda Beasley, whose 17-year-old son Jack was stabbed to death on a night out in Surfers Paradise. Since its introduction as a trial in 2021, more than 1000 weapons have been seized. More than 2100 people have been charged with almost 3800 offences.

“Jack’s Law is working so well in Queensland, it’s a no-brainer to have it ... in NSW,” Mr Beasley said. “The NSW community will be surprised about how many people are wandering around with weapons.”

Mr Minns said the laws would change the mindset of those thinking about carrying knives.

On Monday, NSW Premier Chris Minns told Ben Fordham on 2GB the laws in NSW “go further than the Queensland laws”.

“We can apply it to more designations in more instances at the discretion of a senior police officer in the state,” he said.

Mr Minns said police will target “large shopping centres and major train stations” which will all be covered by the provisions.

“This will save lives, it will get more knives off the street,” he said.

“Many people wouldn’t know that there were 20 murders last year involving a knife, which is the single biggest use of a weapon to kill someone in the state.”

Mr Minns said the laws were stronger than those in Queensland. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Just like roadside drug and alcohol testing, Mr Minns said people won’t know about it in advance.

“This is not designed to capture every knife all the time in every circumstance,” he said.

“That’s not possible, but the randomness of it will mean ... that someone who’s considering taking a knife ... (will say) I’m not going to do it.”

It comes after the Minns government passed legislation in June increasing powers and doubling maximum penalties for certain offences. The laws increased penalties for selling a knife to under-16s to $11,000 or 12 months imprisonment, and banned the sale of knives to 16 to 17-year-olds who do not need a knife for school or work.

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