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Jack Beasley’s law goes global as parents honour stabbing victim’s legacy

After removing 1500 weapons from Queensland streets, Jack's Law could go global as the grieving parents who created it head to Westminster.

Jack Beasley with father Brett
Jack Beasley with father Brett

Brett Beasley speaks to his sons urn each morning, honouring his memory and will embark on a mission to take Queensland’s landmark Jack’s law international.

Brett and Belinda Beasley are set to meet with UK politicians and Scotland Yard to discuss the possible expansion of Jack’s Law with British parliamentarians.

Jack Beasley was 17-years-old when he was stabbed to death outside a Surfers Paradise supermarket while on schoolies in December 2019.

In memory of their son, Brett and Belinda established a foundation following his tragic death, advocating for Jack’s Law. Initially trialled on the Gold Coast in 2021, the law became statewide legislation in 2023, aimed at protecting Queenslanders from knife crime.

Jack’s Law has since expanded allowing police to scan people for knives and other weapons in all public places using metal detectors and made permanent and expanded so that police can now scan people for weapons in all public places in June.

“We’ve taken off over 1500 weapons off the streets of Queensland. I do think Jack’s law will work in the UK. It’s about community safety and that’s what we want to do,” he told The Courier-Mail.

It has led to more than 50,000 people being scanned or “wanded” in Queensland, 1300 weapons being taken off the street and more than 2200 charges laid.

It also follows the adoption of Jack’s Law legislation by other states including NSW, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Mr Beasley and his wife will travel to the UK in November for five days along with Queensland Police in a bid to push Jacks Law through the UK.

“We have booked a meeting with Metropolitan Police, we are off to Westminster Abbey,” he said.

“The knife crime is out of control over there. We are taking Queensland Police service with us, to talk about the operational side of things and the law side of things. We’ll just tell our story about Jack, and how good the law works here in Australia,” he said.

Mr Beasley said he travels around to schools across the state speaking about Jack’s Law and hopes to do the same in the UK.

“We just don’t want any other family to go through what we went through,” he said.

“It’s a terrible situation to go through losing your son, losing a child in any way is horrific but to lose a child to murder is the worst of the worst.”

The five accused killers (all aged between 15 and 18) faced the courts, with three later acquitted of manslaughter.

In 2022, the main perpetrator – who cannot be named because he was a juvenile at the time of the fatal stabbing – was sentenced to 10 years’ jail.

Mr Beasley said each morning he puts his hand on Jack’s urn to say good morning.

“I’ve done the same thing, but I said to him, this morning, mate, this is a big day today. I need your help,” he said.

“I shed some tears as I do, it’s just a sad thing to do, you know every morning to say good morning to your son urn is terrible.

“We just hope to keep his name and his legacy alive.”

Originally published as Jack Beasley’s law goes global as parents honour stabbing victim’s legacy

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/queensland/jack-beasleys-law-goes-global-as-parents-honour-stabbing-victims-legacy/news-story/34602527ea397fb5564d5614cb464839