A statewide wanding blitz saw police search over 450 people for weapons over the weekend in a nation-leading strategy to detect weapons and combat knife crime across Queensland.
Here in Mackay police conducted 14 wandings, with no weapons detected.
Police Inspector Godbold said that he was pleased with the results.
“It was a great result for Mackay,” he said.
“We didn’t detect any knives or other weapons.”
Wanding is the term given to a non-invasive bodily weapons inspection that is conducted by a metal detecting ‘wand’ which is passed over someone’s clothing.
It takes about one minute to conduct the search and soon all officers will be trained in the process that is helping stop knife crime in its tracks.
Last month Queensland Parliament passed legislation that allows officers to conduct wand operations in all Safe Night Precincts and on public trains, trams, buses, and ferries and at public transport hubs.
This new legislation has been named Jack’s Law and came about following powerful advocacy of Brett and Belinda Beasley who lost their 17-year-old son, Jack, in a tragic stabbing incident on the Gold Coast in 2019.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler paid tribute to the family.
“Despite their grief in the face of their senseless loss, Brett and Belinda have been unwavering in their voice for change, ensuring the legacy of their son lives on,” he said.
“As a father and a police officer, my heart goes out to them, and I thank them for their invaluable efforts both in running the Jack Beasley Foundation and it’s important education initiatives and in seeing Jack’s Law become legislation.”
Jack’s Law is helping to stop knife crime in its tracks. Photo: Queensland Police
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