New laws aimed at curbing knife crime and enhancing community safety come into effect in New South Wales today.
The legislation, modelled on Queensland’s Jack’s Law, gives police the power to use handheld scanners or electronic metal-detecting ‘wands’ to stop and scan individuals without a warrant in designated areas.
Premier Chris Minns said in a statement that the new laws, though inconvenient, were necessary for public safety. “These laws are about ensuring the public feels safe and changing the culture,” he said.
“We want to send a clear message to young people: if you’re going out at night, don’t take a knife with you.”
Senior police officers, including those at the rank of Assistant Commissioner or higher, can activate wanding powers in areas such as public transport stations, shopping precincts, certain sporting venues, and places linked to the night-time economy. These powers can be applied for up to 12 hours, with an option to extend if specific criteria are met.
Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism, Yasmin Catley, highlighted the importance of the reforms in tackling knife crime. “These new powers give police the ability to detect concealed knives quickly, preventing potential harm,” she said.
“The government is committed to providing NSW Police with the tools they need to combat violent crime.”
Wanding powers can be used in areas where knife crime or possession offences have occurred within the last year. This includes incidents involving a weapon or serious violence, or multiple knife possession offences.
The new laws are part of a wider package of reforms aimed at reducing knife-related crime across NSW. These include:
- Doubling the maximum fine for selling a knife to a child under 16 to $11,000, with up to 12 months in prison.
- Introducing a new offence for selling knives to children aged 16 or 17 without a legitimate reason.
- Increasing penalties for various knife-related crimes.
- Supporting high-impact police operations, such as Operation Foil, which focuses on knife crime and anti-social behaviour. In its latest phase, police seized 51 knives and weapons and charged 145 individuals with weapon-related offences. Nearly 4,000 knives were confiscated over the past year.
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