New South Wales has passed new laws to combat knife crime, giving police extra powers to keep knives off the streets and restricting the sale of knives to children.
Under these powers, which are modeled on Queensland’s Jack Law, police will be able to use handheld scanners (electronic metal detection ‘wands’) to stop and scan people without a warrant in designated areas.
These areas include shopping areas, sports venues and public transport stations, and the law change came after a series of stabbing incidents, including the mass murder at the Westfield shopping center in Bondi Junction.
Areas will only be sanctioned in circumstances where “a relevant crime involving weapons, knives or violence has occurred in the last 12 months”.
A senior police officer can make a statement, which will allow police to scan people for an initial 12-hour period, which can be extended.
New South Wales has passed new laws to combat knife crime, giving police extra powers to keep knives off the streets and restricting the sale of knives to children. In the photo, the state premier, Chris Minns.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns thanked the Queensland Government and Brett and Belinda Beasley for their help.
The New South Wales law is based on Jack’s Law, which the Queensland government passed in 2023 following the stabbing death of Mr and Mrs Beasley’s son, Jack, in 2019.
The 17-year-old died after being stabbed by a group in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.
The law passed by the New South Wales government also increases the maximum penalty for selling a knife to a child under 16 and introduces a new offense prohibiting the sale of a knife to a 16 or 17-year-old without an excuse. reasonable.
It will also double the maximum penalty for selling a knife to a child, which is now set at $11,000, 12 months in prison or both.
There are provisions for any child aged 16 to 17 who needs knives for work or study, such as hospitality students and apprentices in certain trades.
Minns said this law would send a clear message to any knife carrier.
“Our state is still reeling from the devastating surge in knife-related violence,” he said.
‘We have taken steps to send a clear message that New South Wales simply will not accept these types of crimes.
“These are common-sense changes that strike a careful balance between preserving the rights of individuals and ensuring communities remain safe.”
The Prime Minister said he wanted to “sincerely thank Belinda and Brett Beasley whose advocacy has helped change the law, making New South Wales a safer place”.
The New South Wales law is based on Jack’s Law, which the Queensland government passed in 2023 following the stabbing death of Belinda and Brett Beasley’s son Jack in 2019. Pictured, Ms. and Mr. Beasley.
New South Wales Attorney General Michael Daley said the new laws would make people safer.
‘We want to make sure people in the community feel safe and are protected. “They rightly expect the government to do more to achieve this and this new law will help keep our streets safer,” he said.
‘Knife crime is unacceptable. The ability of the police to control people will help prevent people from being injured and deter people from transporting them and increase community safety.
“These stricter maximum sentences highlight the seriousness of knife-related crimes.”
But shadow attorney general Alister Henskens said the law is meaningless as police have to announce which areas will be targeted, defeating its purpose.
New South Wales Attorney General Michael Daley (pictured, standing) said the new laws would make people safer.
“It is incredibly disappointing to see the Minns Labor government vote against amendments that would improve community safety and give NSW Police the powers they need to take knives off our streets,” he said.
The Opposition’s proposed amendment sought to give police the power to search people for hidden knives anytime, anywhere.
“The proposed laws simply do not do enough to protect our communities from potential knife attacks,” Shadow Police Minister Paul Toole said.
“Police must be given the ability to conduct searches anytime, anywhere.”