NSW government passes law to give police ‘wanding’ search powers

The NSW parliament has passed new ‘wanding’ laws in an effort to keep knives out of the hands of teens.

The sweeping reform to tackle knife crime in NSW has now become law, with police now given powers to keep knives off the streets.

NSW police will given handheld electronic metal-detecting wands that they can use to stop and scan people without a warrant in designated areas.

The areas include sporting venues, shopping precincts and public transport stations, only in circumstances where “a relevant offence involving weapons, knives, or violence has occurred within the past 12 months”.

A senior police officer can make a declaration, which will enable police to scan people for a 12 hour period. This can be extended if required and if the same criterias are met.

The Minns government announced the laws passing and has thanked the Queensland government and Brett and Belinda Beasley for their assistance with Jack’s Law.

Belinda Beasley and Brett Beasley worked with both state governments to introduce Jack’s Law. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

The law is modelled after Jack’s Law, which the Queensland government passed in 2023 following the stabbing death of teenager Jack Beasley in 2019.

The 17-year-old died after being stabbed by a group in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

The law passed by the NSW government also increases the maximum penalty for selling a knife to a child under 16 and introduces a new offence that prohibits the sale of a knife to 16 or 17-year-old kid without a reasonable excuse.

It will also double the maximum penalty for selling a knife to a child, which is now set to $11,000, 12 months imprisonment or both.

There are provisions in place for any child aged 16 to 17 needing knives for work or study, such as hospitality students and apprentices in certain trades.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said Jack’s Law would help prevent knife crime in the state. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

NSW Premier Chris Minns said this law would send a clear message to any knife-wielders.

“Our state is still shaken following the devastating spate of knife related violence. We have taken action to send a clear message that NSW will simply not accept these kinds of crimes,” he said.

“These are commonsense changes that strike a careful balance between preserving the rights of individuals and ensuring communities stay safe.

“I want to genuinely thank Belinda and Brett Beasley whose advocacy has helped change the law, making NSW a safer place.”

NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said the new laws would increase safety in the community.

Attorney-General Michael Daley said the new laws would help reduce knife crime. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“We want to ensure that people in the community feel safe and are safe. Rightly, they expect the government to do more to achieve that and this new Act will help to keep our streets safer,” he said.

“Knife crime is unacceptable. The ability for police to ‘wand’ people will help prevent people being injured and will deter people from carrying them and increase community safety.

“These tougher maximum penalties highlight the seriousness of knife-related crime.”

Shadow Attorney General Alister Henskens pointed out that the law is pointless because police have to advertise which areas will be targeted, defeating its purpose.

“It is incredibly disappointing to see the Minns Labor Government vote against amendments that would enhance community safety and give the NSW Police the powers they need to get knives off our streets,” he said.

The amendmend mentioned sought to give police the power to wand people for any concealed knives at any time and any place.

Opposition Police Minister Paul Toole said the laws don’t go far enough.

“The laws put forward simply do no do enough to protect our communities from possible knife attacks. Police should be given the ability to perform searches anytime and anywhere,” Mr Toole said.