Jack’s law: Police Minister pumps brakes on new move to tackle knife crime

An emotional meeting with senior NSW Government Ministers about introducing new laws tackling knife crime is unlikely to result in any rapid changes.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley has pumped the brakes on any rapid changes to laws allowing police to use metal-detecting wands to check people for knives, following an emotional meeting with a Queensland family whose son was stabbed to death.

Ms Catley and Attorney-General Michael Daley met with Belinda and Brett Beasley on Tuesday afternoon to learn more about ‘Jack’s Law’, named after the Beasley’s son who was attacked and killed in 2017 while on a night out in Surfers Paradise.

Following a spate of high-profile stabbings in NSW, the Police Minister said the government was “(looking) at everything on the table” to combat knife crime, but would first analyse long-term data from the law’s implementation in Queensland.

‘Jack’s Law’ gives police powers to randomly search for knives on public transport and late-night hotspots using metal detecting wands, with the law passing early last year.

Since then 56,000 people have been “wanded”, with more than 800 weapons seized.

Minister for Police Yasmin Catley. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Under current laws, NSW Police have powers to search someone for weapons in a public place without a warrant, but only when they suspect that person is illegally carrying a dangerous implement.

Ms Catley said the impact of the new law in Queensland would be analysed before progressing it in NSW, including whether it had led to instances of racial profiling.

“This is a big change, if we wish to go down this path. Let’s just be very frank about that. We need to speak to the community about it. We need to speak to the experts, we need to ensure that we have all the information that we need,” she said.

Bianca and Brett Beasley. Picture: Lachlan Leeming

Mr Beasley told media following the meeting it was a “no-brainer” to introduce the laws outside of Queensland.

“Who would not want these laws? Who doesn’t want to walk around safe? … as I’ve said before, you’d be absolutely scared to think of how many weapons people are walking around with right now.”

Mr Beasley added the NSW Government seemed “very receptive” of the new laws but more work had to be done before it progressed to legislation.

“It’s working in Queensland and it’s got to work down here,” he said.

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Originally published as Jack’s law: Police Minister pumps brakes on new move to tackle knife crime