More than 500 weapons have been taken off the streets of Queensland in the first year of Jack’s Law.
The legislation was passed in March 2023, following the stabbing death of Gold Coast teen Jack Beasley in 2019 on the streets of Surfers Paradise.
The law gives police the power to use metal detection wands to search people in Safe Night Precincts and public transport hubs across Queensland.
Police have apprehended 1,369 people on 2,469 charges, in relation to weapon, drug, bail and other offences.
The weapons seized range from kitchen and butcher’s knives, tomahawks, hammers, hunting knives, knuckle dusters, screwdrivers and more.
Jack’s mum, Belinda Beasley, says she’d now like to see the operation extended to areas like shopping centres.
“I’m gobsmacked at how many weapons have been found, I knew there would be, but not to this extent,” Ms Beasley says.
“So I think rolling the operation out even further, I mean we’d like to see [metal detection wands] on every police officer, but if we could at least get it to more public places I think that’d be a good step,
“We’re honoured that it’s in Jack’s name, and it’s saving lives.”
Youth Crime Taskforce Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Massingham said Jack’s Law has been instrumental in tackling knife crime.
“I want to commend Brett and Belinda Beasley, from the Jack Beasley Foundation, for their tireless advocacy and support around the extension of wanding powers to assist the QPS with detecting weapons and combatting violence,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Massingham says.
“For more than 500 weapons to be taken off the streets in a year, that’s 500 potential acts of violence disrupted, and people protected,
“We are committed to keeping dangerous items out of the hands of young criminals and reducing the devastation which can result from possessing a knife, including lifelong trauma for the victims, their families, and the community.”
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