Jack’s Law expansion leads to 914 people being scanned for weapons in Townsville in a week

Qld’s police minister says a number of potential tragedies have been avoided in Townsville after wanding laws were expanded. See how many weapons were removed from the street in the first week.

Police wand for weapons.

Nine weapons have been taken off the streets of Townsville since Jack’s Law was expanded and made permanent in Queensland.

Townsville police have scanned 914 people, with more than 6500 wanted and 30 weapons removed across the state.

This comes as Brett and Belinda Beasley – whose son Jack the law is named for – revealed they planned to take the idea to Scotland Yard.

The pair are headed to the K in November with Queensland Police to discuss the expansion of the law with British parliamentarians.

Jack’s Law legislation was also adopted in NSW, Western Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory.

The law was named in memory of 17-year-old Jack, who was fatally stabbed outside a Surfers Paradise supermarket in December 2019.

Brett and Belinda Beasley. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Police Minister Dan Purdie said nine weapons in seven days was potentially nine tragedies avoided.

“These are the kinds of results police have been calling for, and the Crisafulli Government is finally backing them with the tools they need,” he said.

Former police officer and Mundingburra MP Janelle Poole said Jack’s Law was “saving lives” and was a legacy the Beasleys could be proud of.

“Our police have long been asking for the ability to wand anywhere, anytime and now they have a Government that listens, they are able to do their job in protecting our community,” she said.

Townsville MP Adam Ballie said the laws were about giving police the resources they ended to keep the community safe.

“Our community deserves to feel safe at home and when they are out enjoying our beautiful city,” he said.

“Removing weapons from our streets contributes to a safer city and these latest results speak for themselves.”

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr said this was proactive policing that put the community first.

“We never want another family to go through what Brett and Belinda Beasley have endured,” she said.

“Expanding these powers to places like Riverway and local shopping centres means police can be where families gather, stopping violence before it starts.”

Originally published as Jack’s Law expansion leads to 914 people being scanned for weapons in Townsville in a week