July 27, 2026
A total of 9088 people have been scanned for knives in the Darling Downs Police District – which includes the South Burnett – in the past 12 months, with 121 weapons seized.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said it was one year since “Jack’s Law” was made permanent across Queensland.
She said the legislation, which gives Queensland Police the power to use metal-detecting wands at any time to detect weapons, was delivering strong results in the fight against knife crime.
Jack’s Law is named in honour of Jack Beasley, 17, who was fatally stabbed in the chest by a 15-year-old in December 2019 outside a Gold Coast convenience store.
The police wanding operations were initially introduced as a trial on the Gold Coast in 2021 and then extended to more areas before being made permanent across Queensland.
Mrs Frecklington said the figures since it became permanent demonstrated the effectiveness of the legislation in helping keep Queenslanders safe.
“Jack’s Law is saving lives and making our communities safer by giving police the tools they need to get dangerous weapons off our streets before tragedy strikes,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Every weapon seized is potentially a life saved and a family spared the heartbreak of violent crime.
“Jack Beasley’s legacy continues to protect Queensland families every day, and these results show why making Jack’s Law permanent was so important.
“We will continue to back our police and support practical measures that help restore safety in our communities.”
During the past year, police have conducted more than 173,000 scans across Queensland, resulting in the seizure of more than 1300 weapons and more than 2600 people charged with more than 5100 offences.
