Crisafulli Government marks major milestone for Jack's Law
- The Crisafulli Government is cracking down on knife crime making Jack's Law permanent this year.
- The Premier and Minister for Police joined the Beasley family today as police conducted the 100,000th 'wanding'.
- The milestone highlights the importance of introducing the life-saving legislation, which was sidelined under the former Labor Government.
The Crisafulli Government has marked a major milestone in its crack down on knife crime, joining with Brett and Belinda Beasley and Queensland Police as they conducted the 100,000th scan under Jack's Law.
Brett and Belinda Beasley lost their 17-year-old son, Jack, in December 2019 after he was murdered at Surfers Paradise during a night out with friends.
Following the success of the trial of Jack's Law – which allows police to use handheld metal detectors without a warrant – the Crisafulli Government announced it would make the laws permanent in the second tranche of the Making Queensland Safer Laws this year.
Knife crime was allowed to spiral out-of-control by the former Labor Government who ignored calls from the community and front-line police to implement permanent measures to tackle the issue.
Making Jack's Law permanent builds on the Crisafulli Government's commitment to restore community safety by delivering a boost to police resources and ensuring young serious repeat offenders are held to account through Adult Crime, Adult Time.
Premier David Crisafulli said every wanding operation carried out by police was a step closer towards restoring community safety.
"Jacks' Law is saving the lives of Queenslanders," Premier Crisafulli said.
"This milestone wouldn't have happened without the tireless work of Brett and Belinda Beasley, their local MP Sam O'Connor and a determined Gold Coast community who have driven change from tragedy."
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said reaching the 100,000th milestone was a turning point for victims of crime across the state.
"For ten years, the previous Labor Government refused to listen to the needs of our police," Minister Purdie said.
"Labor's weak laws and failure to support frontline officers allowed knife crime to soar, but the Crisafulli Government is turning that around by making Jack's Law permanent.
"From axes to machetes, every knife our police have taken off the streets is a potential life saved, which is why we are prioritising this life-saving legislation."
Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said Queensland Police were committed to combatting knife crime throughout the state and keeping our community safe.
"By scanning for, detecting, and removing dangerous weapons from Queensland streets, police aim to reduce the harm these weapons cause in the community and educate the public on the risks of unlawfully carrying a weapon," Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.
"In just under two years, we've taken more than 900 weapons off the streets during wanding operations."
Brett and Belinda Beasley said they were proud to see Jack's legacy living on.
"We lost our son at the hands of violent criminals and by making Jack's Law permanent to eliminate knives from our streets can and will save lives," Mr Beasley said.
"Today, we are one step closer to making this happen, and we thank the Crisafulli Government for their unwavering support."
Since Jack's Law was introduced in April 2023, 953 weapons have been seized through more than 10,500 wanding operations carried out at safe night precincts, transport hubs, shopping centres and sporting and entertainment venues around the state.
Across Queensland, police have now scanned more than more 100,000 people, resulting in more than 4800 offences, which were mostly weapons and drug related.
