New South Wales is about to introduce tough new knife crime laws, which were announced just days before a western Sydney school was closed when a student arrived with a knife.
The laws are designed to combat knife possession, particularly among teenagers, and are modeled on Queensland’s “Jack’s Law”.
Under the New South Wales plans, police will be able to search without a warrant in designated areas, including transport hubs, shopping centres, and nightlife and entertainment areas.
The powers can be used “in circumstances where a relevant weapons or knife crime has occurred within the last six months”, the government said.
The authority will last 12 hours, with the option of extension.
The reforms will also make it illegal to sell knives to children under 18, with exemptions for those who need a knife for work or study.
Education Minister Prue Car said she was “deeply concerned” about an incident at Chifley College on Thursday afternoon, where a school was placed on lockdown when a student arrived with a knife.
New South Wales Police said a teacher was injured trying to take the knife from the student, but no children were hurt.
“No one should bring knives to school and if they do the police will be called,” Ms Car said, as New South Wales prepares to enact tough new knife crime laws.
Chifley College (pictured), in Sydney’s west, is on lockdown after a student arrived on campus armed with a knife.
New South Wales is set to enact tough new knife crime laws. In the photo, the Minister of Education, Prue Car.
“Our schools must be safe for all staff and students and my thoughts are with the school community and all those affected.”
Emergency services were called to Chifley College in Maple Road, North St Marys at around 1.20pm on Thursday following reports that a student had a knife.
“A member of staff suffered a small laceration while attempting to confiscate the knife, prior to police arrival,” a police statement said.
“No students were injured during the incident.”
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the staff member and took the boy who allegedly brought the knife to school to hospital for assessment.
The school issued a statement shortly after it was closed.
“For our school community, we are currently on lockdown.”
“Please be assured that all students and staff are safe.”
Earlier this week, the New South Wales government announced that police would have new powers to scan people for knives with metal detectors in areas such as shopping centers and public transport hubs.
“I know many in our community have followed the devastating media coverage and heard the stories of the victims and their families – tragically, there have been many, many recent examples,” said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.
“Our communities are still grieving, but it is essential that we step up and take immediate action to send a clear message that New South Wales simply will not accept these types of crimes.”
NSW Police have urged the NSW Sentencing Council to consider punishing parents who allow their children to possess knives.
The latest knife-related incident follows a spate of knife crimes in recent weeks, including the stabbing murder of six people at the Westfield shopping center in Bondi Junction.
There was also an attack on an Assyrian Christian bishop during a live-streamed religious service.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was preaching at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, in Sydney’s west, on April 15 when a teenager wearing a hoodie approached the altar and allegedly stabbed him several times.
NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) said “it is essential that we step forward to take immediate action and send a clear message that NSW simply will not accept these types of crimes.” .
NSW Police said that while no children were injured in the incident, a teacher was injured when they tried to take the knife from the student. Police crime scene tape
Horrific footage of the incident, which was streamed live on the church’s YouTube page, showed Bishop Emmanuel looking on in shock as the attacker suddenly rained blows on his face and head.
In Torquay, Victoria, a man who was allegedly threatened with a knife by former soldier Travis Johnston while holding his 19-month-old son said he immediately thought of the tragedy at Bondi Junction.
Earlier this month, surfer Kye Schaefer, 22, was stabbed at Park Beach in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, while still wearing his wetsuit, at around 6.40am.
Chifley College already made the news in March 2011, when student Casey Heynes, then 16, turned the tables on a bully, a video of which went viral.