Queensland Expands Weapon Scanning Laws, Making Them Permanent
Legislation, known as 'Jack's Law', allows police to conduct warrantless searches for weapons across public areas in Queensland.
The Queensland government has enacted legislation that permanently implements expanded police search powers allowing law enforcement to scan individuals for weapons in public spaces.
This change follows a late-night parliamentary session during which the Liberal National government established what is referred to as 'Jack's Law' as permanent legislation.
Initially introduced in response to the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Jack Beasley in 2019 on the Gold Coast, the trial period for the weapon scanning initiative was set to continue until 2026. The law permits police to use handheld metal detectors to perform warrantless searches, also known as 'wanding.' Initially, the trial was limited to two precincts but later expanded to include multiple public locations.
Brett and Belinda Beasley, the parents of the deceased, have been prominent advocates for the law, remarking that the legacy of their son would help prevent similar tragedies.
The newly passed legislation eliminates a previously established 'sunset clause' that would have automatically repealed the laws in October 2026. Law enforcement now has the authority to conduct searches in any open public area.
During the two-year trial, police conducted over 116,000 scans and made more than 3,000 arrests, leading to approximately 5,500 charges being laid.
The initiative reportedly resulted in the removal of 1,126 dangerous weapons from circulation, which authorities claim emphasizes the effectiveness and necessity of these search powers in current policing.
Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie has characterized the law as a significant deterrent to crime, citing arrest statistics as evidence.
However, the application of these laws has raised concerns regarding potential biases, as a review from Griffith University indicated that the effectiveness of wanding may be inconsistent across different demographics.
The report suggested that the practice should be specifically focused on areas with a higher incidence of knife-related offenses.
In broader regional perspectives, other states and territories are adopting similar measures.
Recently, Tasmania instituted laws allowing for wanding, and Victoria has implemented a ban on machetes while enhancing police search powers.
Alongside these regional approaches, Queensland's state opposition proposed measures to limit the sale of machetes, mirroring legislation in Victoria, though this suggestion was rejected by the government.
This change follows a late-night parliamentary session during which the Liberal National government established what is referred to as 'Jack's Law' as permanent legislation.
Initially introduced in response to the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Jack Beasley in 2019 on the Gold Coast, the trial period for the weapon scanning initiative was set to continue until 2026. The law permits police to use handheld metal detectors to perform warrantless searches, also known as 'wanding.' Initially, the trial was limited to two precincts but later expanded to include multiple public locations.
Brett and Belinda Beasley, the parents of the deceased, have been prominent advocates for the law, remarking that the legacy of their son would help prevent similar tragedies.
The newly passed legislation eliminates a previously established 'sunset clause' that would have automatically repealed the laws in October 2026. Law enforcement now has the authority to conduct searches in any open public area.
During the two-year trial, police conducted over 116,000 scans and made more than 3,000 arrests, leading to approximately 5,500 charges being laid.
The initiative reportedly resulted in the removal of 1,126 dangerous weapons from circulation, which authorities claim emphasizes the effectiveness and necessity of these search powers in current policing.
Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie has characterized the law as a significant deterrent to crime, citing arrest statistics as evidence.
However, the application of these laws has raised concerns regarding potential biases, as a review from Griffith University indicated that the effectiveness of wanding may be inconsistent across different demographics.
The report suggested that the practice should be specifically focused on areas with a higher incidence of knife-related offenses.
In broader regional perspectives, other states and territories are adopting similar measures.
Recently, Tasmania instituted laws allowing for wanding, and Victoria has implemented a ban on machetes while enhancing police search powers.
Alongside these regional approaches, Queensland's state opposition proposed measures to limit the sale of machetes, mirroring legislation in Victoria, though this suggestion was rejected by the government.
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