‘Lives will be saved': Family of murdered teen speaks out
The expanded legislation came into effect on Friday, and the laws are named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed in 2019.
'Jack's Law is now permanent, and police can use these scanners across the State, not just in Safe Night Precincts and other previously prescribed places,' Police Minister Dan Purdie said.
'This is about giving police the tools they need to detect and deter knife crime, and prevent more families from living through the heartbreak the Beasleys have endured.' Police Minister Dan Purdie, Youth Minister Sam O'Connor and Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman test out the metal detecting wands. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia
Jack was killed on a night out at Surfers Paradise. Since then, his parents Belinda and Brett have pushed for reform.
'We made a promise to Jack that we'd make sure something good came from this tragedy, and now, thanks to this law, lives will be saved,' Mr Beasley said.
'We'll never know whose life is saved because someone was caught with a knife before they could use it, but that's the power of this law. It works.'
Belinda Beasley said the expansion meant Jack's legacy lived on.
'Jack's Law is for every young person and every family who deserves to feel safe,' she said. Jack Beasley Foundation volunteers walked around with police during the wanding trial in Surfers Paradise. Credit: Supplied
'We're incredibly grateful to the police, and to the Crisafulli Government that has listened and acted.'
Trials of Jack's Law began in April 2023 under the previous Labor government. Government figures show since then, 1190 weapons have been seized, 3248 people have been arrested, almost 6000 charges have been laid and more than 122,000 people have been scanned.
During the election campaign, then-opposition leader David Crisufalli promised to make the trial of Jack's Law permanent.
The expanded, and now enshrined laws, allow police to randomly detain any person to search them with a metal detector, without the requirement that they are reasonably suspected of committing a crime. Jack Beasley's parents have pushed for reform which they say could prevent another death. Credit: Supplied
A state-funded report into the laws cautioned Queenslanders could be subjected to 'stereotypes and discrimination', 'surveillance and harassment' and a 'small number of officers' were wanding people because of 'non-offending behaviours', such as being in groups.
Following Jack's death, five teenage boys aged between 15 and 18 at the time were charged; three were acquitted of manslaughter at a judge-only trial.
A 17-year-old male pleaded guilty to murder, and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison but will only serve seven.
A 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
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