Sunshine Coast police warn youths of ‘catastrophic’ dangers of knife crime

Sunshine Coast police and community groups joined forces to launch a knife crime prevention campaign to educate young people on the “catastrophic” risks of carrying the weapons.

A 16-year-old girl was cut from ear to chin with a box cutter during a brawl at Kawana Shoppingworld in 2020.

Sunshine Coast police and community groups have launched a knife crime prevention campaign, focused on educating and engaging with young people on the risks of carrying the weapons.

The campaign, I live my life … without a knife, has been rolled out throughout the state this year following a successful trial in South Brisbane which generated a 23 per cent decrease in knife crime.

Police, politicians and community groups met to launch the campaign at Nambour State College on Friday, November 5.

Superintendent Craig Hawkins said police would not tolerate knife crime in any form. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins said the most “frightening” thing as a police officer was being confronted by someone armed with a knife.

Supt Hawkins said bladed weapons such as knives or box cutters could have “catastrophic” consequences to the victim and the perpetrator.

“If police are confronted, there is nothing more frightening and critical decisions have to be made which are likely to lead to the loss of life. That is the reality,” Supt Hawkins said.

“The injuries that are inflicted are devastating and can be life changing.”

A 16-year-old girl was sliced from ear to chin with a box cutter during a brawl at Kawana Shoppingworld.

It comes 12 months after a 16-year-old girl sustained serious injuries after allegedly being slashed by a man armed with a box cutter at a Buddina shopping centre.

The alleged victim sustained a 10cm gash on her jawline which required plastic surgery.

Supt Hawkins said statewide statistics since 2016 showed knife crime was on the rise, predominantly in men aged from 10-25.

“Carrying a knife does not protect you and actually increases the risk of a weapon being used on you or another,” Supt Hawkins said.

“Self defence is not an excuse for carrying a knife. You cannot carry one in public, including a vehicle.”

A 16-year-old girl sustained “gruesome” injuries in an alleged slashing at Buddina.

Former detective and Ninderry MP Dan Purdie was also at the school and said it was an important matter to tackle.

Mr Purdie said the statistics around knives were “alarming” and said more needed to be done as a community to change the behaviour.

“It can destroy lives, not just the families of the victims but the offender’s lives are potentially destroyed too,” Mr Purdie said.

“Police say knife crime has escalated and as a community we need to do more to change the behaviour.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast police warn youths of ‘catastrophic’ dangers of knife crime