Knife crime Gold Coast: Police looking at anti-knife campaign directed at young people, as Logan initiative has success

Social media influencers are being called on to help solve the Gold Coast’s knife crime issues after a spate of stabbing deaths in the past year.

GOLD Coast police are looking at an anti-knife campaign directed at young people after a spate of stabbing deaths and a senior cop has called on celebrities and influencers to come forward to assist.

Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said police were open to national and international approaches to addressing knife crime, including a Logan initiative.

“If it’s a logical and practical suggestion we’ll certainly look at trying to explore it,” he said, adding any discussions were in their early stages.

The Logan campaign – called I live my life without a knife – was established in October last year and educates youths on the legal definition of a knife, the potential consequences of carrying one in a public place, and the benefits of going knife free.

One of the posters from the Logan crime prevention campaign from October. Photo: Queensland Police Service.

To appeal to its audience the campaign uses three young community members – with influence in the Logan area – to spread its message. They appeared in short videos which were broadcasted at schools and seminars.

The concept was created by Beaudesert-based Senior Sergeant Kenneth Murray, with the help of Logan City Council. He was previously the acting Detective Inspector in the district and had seen a rise in the number of knives being found on people in public, in particular youths.

Sen-Sgt Murray believed if you could changed the mindset of youths to not take a knife in public it removes any risk of a stabbing.

“If it’s not there, the choice can’t be made and therefore the damage can’t be done,” he said.

Supt Smith called on celebrities and social media influencers to come forward if they wanted to help on the Coast.

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“It’s still a work in progress. That’s one of the things, young people don’t watch the six ‘o’clock news, they get all their information from social media,” he said.

“We should be using (celebrities and influencers) as an avenue to get the message across.

“Anyone that’s willing to get the message across that knife crime is not appropriate and carrying knives is not appropriate, we’re more than willing to engage with them.

“We also want peers to talk to each other as well.

“It’s unfortunate people see violence as a means to an end. They need to turn the other cheek.”

Det Supt Smith encouraged families to warn younger members about the dangers of carrying knives and the potentially horrific consequences.

Five of the nine alleged murders in the district involved knives – and all five accused were under the age of 21.

Sen-Sgt Murray said the Logan campaign had shown some success in the targeted areas since its inception, which he measured based on fewer knives being found, and was hopeful of expanding it to other police districts, including the Gold Coast.

South eastern police regional crime co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“If the knife’s not there and we really can target and educate our youth about not carrying a knife maybe I can make a difference here and maybe we can all as a community be safer,” he said.

“Arresting people and investigating crime is important … but I think it’s important also to have beneath that a crime prevention strategy that disrupts the offence.”