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4w ago

Queensland Makes Jack’s Law Permanent and Extends Warrantless Knife Searches Statewide

Critics warn the measure risks overpolicing marginalized communities with no clear link to reducing knife violence.

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Known as 'Jack's Law', the legislation will be expanded to allow police in the state to conduct scans for knives with hand-held detectors in any public place.
Police in Queensland use wanding to search for knives

Overview

  • The Queensland Parliament removed the law’s sunset clause and authorised officers to use handheld metal detectors without warrants or reasonable suspicion in any public place.
  • Since April 2023 police have conducted more than 116,000 wand searches, seizing about 1,100 weapons and making over 3,000 related arrests.
  • Police Minister Dan Purdie said the permanent measures are vital for community safety and noted that only two complaints have been lodged against wanding operations.
  • Griffith University’s 2022 review and a submission from the Queensland Human Rights Commission raised concerns about disproportionate impacts on First Nations people, the homeless and those with mental health issues.
  • Civil liberties groups and youth advocates criticised the removal of notice and reporting requirements, arguing it will increase harassment of vulnerable groups without proven reductions in knife crime.