Latest news with #Jack'sLaw
Sydney Morning Herald
20-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Revealed: The hotspots where people in the crowd are hiding weapons
The locations of metal detection scans carried out by Queensland Police can be revealed for the first time, with dozens of weapons found in shopping centres as well as crime hotspots, including nightclub districts. Documents obtained by Brisbane Times show that from January to March this year, police wanded more than 12,400 people but charged fewer than 3 per cent with weapons offences. The data shows officers conducted scanning operations in major hubs around south-east Queensland, such as nightclub areas in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and shopping complexes, including Toowong Village, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, and Westfield Mount Gravatt. The highest number of weapons were recorded at Surfers Paradise's safe night precinct (27 weapons), Broadbeach South light rail stop (13 weapons), and bus stop A outside the Logan Hyperdome Shopping Centre in Shailer Park (10 weapons). The shopping centres with the most weapons detected were Chermside in Brisbane's north and Grand Central in Toowoomba, with four found in each. Searches were carried out at dozens of transport hubs, such as the Chermside bus interchange, Central train station, and bus platforms at Carindale Shopping Centre. From more than 12,400 scans, 303 people were charged with weapons offences – a 2.4 per cent strike rate. The wanding operations, known as Jack's Law, were put in place following the fatal stabbing of teenager Jack Beasley in 2019.
The Age
20-07-2025
- The Age
Revealed: The hotspots where people in the crowd are hiding weapons
The locations of metal detection scans carried out by Queensland Police can be revealed for the first time, with dozens of weapons found in shopping centres as well as crime hotspots, including nightclub districts. Documents obtained by Brisbane Times show that from January to March this year, police wanded more than 12,400 people but charged fewer than 3 per cent with weapons offences. The data shows officers conducted scanning operations in major hubs around south-east Queensland, such as nightclub areas in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and shopping complexes, including Toowong Village, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, and Westfield Mount Gravatt. The highest number of weapons were recorded at Surfers Paradise's safe night precinct (27 weapons), Broadbeach South light rail stop (13 weapons), and bus stop A outside the Logan Hyperdome Shopping Centre in Shailer Park (10 weapons). The shopping centres with the most weapons detected were Chermside in Brisbane's north and Grand Central in Toowoomba, with four found in each. Searches were carried out at dozens of transport hubs, such as the Chermside bus interchange, Central train station, and bus platforms at Carindale Shopping Centre. From more than 12,400 scans, 303 people were charged with weapons offences – a 2.4 per cent strike rate. The wanding operations, known as Jack's Law, were put in place following the fatal stabbing of teenager Jack Beasley in 2019.
Sky News AU
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Queensland Jack's Law metal detector wanding power become permanent
Laws giving police the power to scan anyone in public with a metal detector have been expanded and made permanent in Queensland. 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.' 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. '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. 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. Originally published as Queensland law expanded allowing police to scan anyone in public with metal detectors
Perth Now
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Lives will be saved': Family of murdered teen speaks out
Laws giving police the power to scan anyone in public with a metal detector have been expanded and made permanent in Queensland. 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.
The Advertiser
29-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Australia-wide knife crackdown gets sharper
KNIFE LAWS AROUND THE COUNTRY: VIC: * An interim ban on sales of machetes in the state was instituted in May after a surge in high-profile stabbings in shopping centres, including a security guard stabbed outside a Melbourne Woolworths * Penalties range from one year in prison for possession and more than $45,000 in fines for selling knives to children under 18 NSW: * In December 2024, the government passed a raft of new laws with those carrying a knife in a public place or school facing up to four years in jail and the sale of sharp knives to children under 16 prohibited * Six months earlier, police powers were expanded to wand or scan people without a warrant in public areas including sporting venues, shopping centres and public transport * Penalties for various knife offences include a maximum four year jail term and fines of up to $11,000 QLD: * Jack's Law was passed in 2023 in honour of 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed in a knife attack in 2019 * It empowers police to use hand-held metal detectors to seize concealed weapons in public places WA: * The state passed new laws in December 2024 for police to scan people in specific entertainment precincts * Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $12,000 or a year behind bars * The fine is tripled to $36,000 and three years in jail for possessing an edged weapon, which includes everything from knives and machetes to scythes and axes NT: * The territory introduced wanding laws in 2023 across 16 precincts * It also introduced a knife crime prevention strategy, following the death of a 20-year-old bottle shop worker at his workplace in March 2023. TAS: * Reid's Law was passed in April to stop people carrying flick knives and machetes for the purpose of causing fear and threatening community safety * The bill is named after Reid Ludwig, a father of two who was fatally stabbed at a petrol station in 2019 at the hands of an armed teenager * It also expands search and stop powers for police officers with those carrying the dangerous sharp weapons facing up to three years in prison or a $20,000 fine SA: * SA has moved to ban machetes and swords making it an offence to manufacture, sell, distribute, supply or have possession of the weapons with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or two years in jail * The government has also raised the purchase age for any dangerous knives from 16 to 18 and has expanded laws around the possession of knives and offensive weapons in public places to include childcare centres, preschools, universities and TAFE SA campuses, and places of worship KNIFE LAWS AROUND THE COUNTRY: VIC: * An interim ban on sales of machetes in the state was instituted in May after a surge in high-profile stabbings in shopping centres, including a security guard stabbed outside a Melbourne Woolworths * Penalties range from one year in prison for possession and more than $45,000 in fines for selling knives to children under 18 NSW: * In December 2024, the government passed a raft of new laws with those carrying a knife in a public place or school facing up to four years in jail and the sale of sharp knives to children under 16 prohibited * Six months earlier, police powers were expanded to wand or scan people without a warrant in public areas including sporting venues, shopping centres and public transport * Penalties for various knife offences include a maximum four year jail term and fines of up to $11,000 QLD: * Jack's Law was passed in 2023 in honour of 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed in a knife attack in 2019 * It empowers police to use hand-held metal detectors to seize concealed weapons in public places WA: * The state passed new laws in December 2024 for police to scan people in specific entertainment precincts * Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $12,000 or a year behind bars * The fine is tripled to $36,000 and three years in jail for possessing an edged weapon, which includes everything from knives and machetes to scythes and axes NT: * The territory introduced wanding laws in 2023 across 16 precincts * It also introduced a knife crime prevention strategy, following the death of a 20-year-old bottle shop worker at his workplace in March 2023. TAS: * Reid's Law was passed in April to stop people carrying flick knives and machetes for the purpose of causing fear and threatening community safety * The bill is named after Reid Ludwig, a father of two who was fatally stabbed at a petrol station in 2019 at the hands of an armed teenager * It also expands search and stop powers for police officers with those carrying the dangerous sharp weapons facing up to three years in prison or a $20,000 fine SA: * SA has moved to ban machetes and swords making it an offence to manufacture, sell, distribute, supply or have possession of the weapons with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or two years in jail * The government has also raised the purchase age for any dangerous knives from 16 to 18 and has expanded laws around the possession of knives and offensive weapons in public places to include childcare centres, preschools, universities and TAFE SA campuses, and places of worship KNIFE LAWS AROUND THE COUNTRY: VIC: * An interim ban on sales of machetes in the state was instituted in May after a surge in high-profile stabbings in shopping centres, including a security guard stabbed outside a Melbourne Woolworths * Penalties range from one year in prison for possession and more than $45,000 in fines for selling knives to children under 18 NSW: * In December 2024, the government passed a raft of new laws with those carrying a knife in a public place or school facing up to four years in jail and the sale of sharp knives to children under 16 prohibited * Six months earlier, police powers were expanded to wand or scan people without a warrant in public areas including sporting venues, shopping centres and public transport * Penalties for various knife offences include a maximum four year jail term and fines of up to $11,000 QLD: * Jack's Law was passed in 2023 in honour of 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed in a knife attack in 2019 * It empowers police to use hand-held metal detectors to seize concealed weapons in public places WA: * The state passed new laws in December 2024 for police to scan people in specific entertainment precincts * Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $12,000 or a year behind bars * The fine is tripled to $36,000 and three years in jail for possessing an edged weapon, which includes everything from knives and machetes to scythes and axes NT: * The territory introduced wanding laws in 2023 across 16 precincts * It also introduced a knife crime prevention strategy, following the death of a 20-year-old bottle shop worker at his workplace in March 2023. TAS: * Reid's Law was passed in April to stop people carrying flick knives and machetes for the purpose of causing fear and threatening community safety * The bill is named after Reid Ludwig, a father of two who was fatally stabbed at a petrol station in 2019 at the hands of an armed teenager * It also expands search and stop powers for police officers with those carrying the dangerous sharp weapons facing up to three years in prison or a $20,000 fine SA: * SA has moved to ban machetes and swords making it an offence to manufacture, sell, distribute, supply or have possession of the weapons with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or two years in jail * The government has also raised the purchase age for any dangerous knives from 16 to 18 and has expanded laws around the possession of knives and offensive weapons in public places to include childcare centres, preschools, universities and TAFE SA campuses, and places of worship KNIFE LAWS AROUND THE COUNTRY: VIC: * An interim ban on sales of machetes in the state was instituted in May after a surge in high-profile stabbings in shopping centres, including a security guard stabbed outside a Melbourne Woolworths * Penalties range from one year in prison for possession and more than $45,000 in fines for selling knives to children under 18 NSW: * In December 2024, the government passed a raft of new laws with those carrying a knife in a public place or school facing up to four years in jail and the sale of sharp knives to children under 16 prohibited * Six months earlier, police powers were expanded to wand or scan people without a warrant in public areas including sporting venues, shopping centres and public transport * Penalties for various knife offences include a maximum four year jail term and fines of up to $11,000 QLD: * Jack's Law was passed in 2023 in honour of 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was fatally stabbed in a knife attack in 2019 * It empowers police to use hand-held metal detectors to seize concealed weapons in public places WA: * The state passed new laws in December 2024 for police to scan people in specific entertainment precincts * Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $12,000 or a year behind bars * The fine is tripled to $36,000 and three years in jail for possessing an edged weapon, which includes everything from knives and machetes to scythes and axes NT: * The territory introduced wanding laws in 2023 across 16 precincts * It also introduced a knife crime prevention strategy, following the death of a 20-year-old bottle shop worker at his workplace in March 2023. TAS: * Reid's Law was passed in April to stop people carrying flick knives and machetes for the purpose of causing fear and threatening community safety * The bill is named after Reid Ludwig, a father of two who was fatally stabbed at a petrol station in 2019 at the hands of an armed teenager * It also expands search and stop powers for police officers with those carrying the dangerous sharp weapons facing up to three years in prison or a $20,000 fine SA: * SA has moved to ban machetes and swords making it an offence to manufacture, sell, distribute, supply or have possession of the weapons with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or two years in jail * The government has also raised the purchase age for any dangerous knives from 16 to 18 and has expanded laws around the possession of knives and offensive weapons in public places to include childcare centres, preschools, universities and TAFE SA campuses, and places of worship
