Townsville Police and officers from the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) have conducted more than 1000 wandings and seized ten weapons since 18 July, as part of Operation Marshall.
Under Jacks Law, Operation Marshall involves high visibility patrols where police use hand-held scanners to wand or detect illegal weapons in public places.
Around 10pm on 19 July, officers were conducting patrols of the Townsville Safe Night Precinct with Brett and Belinda Beasley when they allegedly located a 24-year-old Mundingburra man with a small box cutter on a key chain.
On 24 July, police conducting patrols at an Aitkenvale shopping centre, when they located a 53-year-old Kirwan man with two machetes.
He was issued an adult caution.
On 24 July, police allegedly located a 46-year-old man with two knives at a Townsville Shopping Centre.
He was charged with two counts of possession of a knife in a public place and is due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on 29 July.
Police also arrested several people for other matters, including drug offences.
Townsville District Officer Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said it was concerning for police to find nine weapons in only a week.
"No one should be carrying these types of weapons in public, and we will continue our proactive operations to ensure there is no harm to the community," Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said.
"We were pleased to see so many people have positive engagements with officers and the Beasleys, as they continue to educate the community about Jack's Law.
"You can expect to see police out conducting wanding operations with metal detectors in the coming weeks."
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.
