Police have scanned more than 3200 people on the Sunshine Coast, and more than 82,000 statewide, in the six months since Jack’s Law was expanded and made permanent.
Three weapons were seized in the region, and more than 600 across Queensland since June, when police were enabled to use handheld metal detectors in all public places.
Jack’s Law is named in honour of 17-year-old Jack Beasley, who was fatally stabbed at Surfers Paradise in 2019. His parents Brett and Belinda Beasley have since campaigned tirelessly to prevent other families experiencing the same tragedy.
A trial of the law ran from mid-2023 to mid-2025 before it was made permanent.
Queensland police have since made 1280 arrests and laid 2424 charges.
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Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the results showed the law was working.
“In just six months, Queensland police have scanned 82,648 people and taken 603 weapons off our streets,” he said.
“That’s real prevention. We made (the law) permanent and gave police the powers they’ve been asking for, and now, other jurisdictions are following us.
“Every weapon seized is a potential life saved, and that’s how we honour Jack Beasley’s legacy.”
Brett Beasley said the results reinforced the importance of the law.
“Every knife removed from the street is a potential tragedy prevented,” he said.
“We’ll never know whose life was protected, but we do know these laws are stopping violence before it happens.”
Belinda Beasley said Jack’s legacy would endure.
“Jack’s Law is about protecting young people and giving families peace of mind,” she said.
“We’re grateful to police who use these powers every day.”
Commissioner of Police Steve Gollschewski commended frontline police for their extensive work in leveraging Jack’s Law to tackle knife crime.
“Every knife taken off the street makes our community safer, and these results reflect the tireless work of our police,” he said.
“Having expanded powers has enhanced our frontline police’s ability to better prevent, detect and disrupt crime, and keep Queensland safe.”
While only a relative few weapons were seized on the Sunshine Coast, many more were seized at other regions in the state, including the Gold Coast (159), Townsville (99), North Brisbane (68) and the Far North (61).
Caloundra MP Kendall Morton said Jack’s Law was critical.
“Across the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions the Queensland Police have wanded over 7000 people and seized multiple weapons, and for every one of the knives that are seized during these operations that is a potential life that’s saved,” she said.
“Our government is committed to keeping our communities safe and ensuring that the Queensland Police have the tools and have the laws in place that allow them to get these weapons off the street.
“We’re committed to keeping our community safe, getting knives off the street and making sure police have those powers to use their wanding tools in public spaces.”
The state government has also invested $1 million to secure the future of the Jack Beasley Foundation’s One Moment program, ensuring thousands of Queensland students continue to hear Jack’s story and understand the consequences of knife crime.
