Brett and Belinda Beasley have joined officers from Ipswich this week to raise awareness of Jack's Law in an effort to reduce knife crime across the district.
Jack's Law was introduced this year in response to the tragic stabbing death of 17-year-old Jack Beasley at Surfers Paradise in 2019.
It was made permanent in July, allowing Queensland Police to use hand-held scanners to identify and seize weapons from people in all public places.
The expansion of Jack's Law allows for both planned wanding operations and random wandings to detect and deter the unlawful possession of edged weapons in various locations including shopping centres, licences premises and public areas.
From 18 July to 20 November, Ipswich police have conducted 2493 wandings at multiple locations across the district, resulting in the location of 34 edged weapons being seized (examples of weapons seized shown below).
This has resulted in 49 people being charged with 79 offences.
The Beasley's spoke with general duties officers from Springfield Station this morning, 28 November, before joining them during wanding exercises conducted at a Springfield rail station and shopping centre.
Ipswich District Southern Patrol Group Acting Inspector Lee Fortune said education around knife violence is crucial for ensuring people are aware of the devastating impacts carrying a knife can have.
"It's great to have the Beasley's here today, to help better inform our local community members and empower them to make safe choices," A/Inspector Fortune said.
"Overall, we are seeing a positive response to wanding from locals and will continue operations across the district to deter and prevent knife crime."
"We want to remind everyone it is illegal to possess a knife or deadly weapon in a public place and we're focused on enforcing this to ensure everyone's safety."
Police will continue to work closely with the community to ensure that the momentum gained from Jack's Law is maintained, keeping our streets safe.
Vision timestamps:
0.00- 0.22:
On 9 September, police allegedly located a knife on a man during a wanding exercise at a shopping centre in Booval.
A 25-year-old Slacks Creek man was charged with one count each of possess knife in a public place and possess dangerous drugs.
He is expected to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on 15 December.
0.22-1.27
On 16 October, police allegedly located a knife on a man during a wanding exercise at a shopping centre in Redbank Plains.
A 20-year-old Inala man was charged with one count of possess knife in a public place.
He is expected to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates court on 28 November.
1.27-1.53
On 14 November, police allegedly located a knife on a man during a wanding exercise at a train station in Goodna.
A 35-year-old Raceview man was charged with one count of possess knife in a public place.
He is expected to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates court on 12 December.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
