Gold Coast police have seized five weapons and charged 17 people with 27 offences during the first day of Jack's Law wanding operations in local shopping centres yesterday, September 12.
The co-ordinated action involved strategic wanding operations across eight shopping centres at Southport, Broadbeach, Helensvale, Coomera, Miami, Robina, Pacific Pines and Biggera Waters.
Over the course of the operations 274 people were subject to metal detection scans, including 161 adults and 113 young people.
Just after 11am police engaged a 38-year-old local man at a Southport shopping centre for the purpose of a scan.
He declared to officers that he was in possession of a knife, police subsequently located two box-cutters and a quantity of cannabis in his bag.
He has been charged with possessing a knife in a public place and possessing dangerous drugs.
At approximately 8pm, police stopped and wanded a 33-year-old Brisbane woman at a Broadbeach shopping centre.
She was located in unlawful possession of two knives and charged with two counts of possession of a knife in a public place.
At about 4pm, a 41-year-old Nerang man was stopped and wanded at Broadbeach South tram stop, nearby a shopping centre, where a knife was allegedly located in his bag.
He was charged with possession of a knife in public place and is expected to appear before Southport Magistrates Court on October 10.
Gold Coast District Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said that these outcomes are an indication of the impact the expansion to Jack's Law will have in enhancing community safety.
"The seizure of five weapons in just a matter of hours shows how crucial Jack's Law is in helping police reduce knife violence in our community," Chief Superintendent Hanlon said.
"The response across our first day of wanding operations in shopping centres was overwhelmingly positive, and we'd like to thank the community and centres for their co-operation and support.
"Together we can take dangerous weapons off our streets and create safer public spaces for Gold Coasters and visitors to enjoy."
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
