BRETT Beasley, whose 17-year-old son Jack was fatally stabbed during a night out in 2019, says Queensland’s expanded Jack’s Law is helping to take dangerous weapons off the streets in Redlands and the Bayside – and saving lives.
Jack’s Law, introduced after Jack’s death, gives police the power to use handheld metal detectors to search people for weapons in public places without a warrant.
The law was first trialled in the Gold Coast’s Safe Night Precincts and made permanent across Queensland in 2023.
The latest changes, which came into effect on July 18, expanded the law to allow police to conduct both planned and random wanding operations in a wider range of public spaces, including shopping centres, licensed venues and public transport hubs.
“Jack’s Law is saving lives,” Mr Beasley said.
“Queensland Police have now wanded over 150,000 people and taken more than 1500 weapons off the streets.
“Even if it’s just one life saved, that’s a massive impact.”
His comments follow a recent wanding operation in Brisbane’s south that led to the seizure of 13 weapons and more than 30 people being charged – including in relation to several disturbing incidents in the Redlands.
As part of the latest enforcement push, police in the Redlands intercepted a teen wearing a balaclava during a Coffee with a Cop at Victoria Point shopping centre on July 22.
A knife was allegedly found in the teen’s possession and a 14-year-old Cleveland boy was dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
Four days later, on July 26, officers conducting a wanding operation at a hotel on Bloomfield St in Cleveland allegedly located a Stanley knife on a man.
The 43-year-old was charged with possession of a knife in a public place and is expected to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on August 26.
That same day, Macleay Island police allegedly found a knuckle duster during a wanding operation at the ferry terminal.
A 34-year-old Cleveland man was charged with unlawful possession of a Category M weapon and remanded in custody.
He is due to appear before Cleveland Magistrates Court on September 9.
Later that evening, police patrolling Cleveland train station allegedly located a knife on a 14-year-old Cleveland girl.
She was charged with possession of a knife in a public place and dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
Mr Beasley, who along with wife Belinda established the Jack Beasley Foundation, said while the law was making a real difference, education was the key to changing behaviour.
“A lot of these kids say they carry knives because they feel they need to protect themselves,” he said.
“It’s a silly scenario, but that’s how they think – because they believe others are carrying too.
“That mindset must change.
“We’re trying to break that cycle by getting into schools and showing them there’s a better way.
“You don’t need to carry a knife.
“Walk around with a footy or a basketball instead.”
He said the foundation would continue to work with police, schools and communities to reinforce the message that knife-carrying has no place in society.
“You can’t take your finger off the pulse – education is key,” he said.
“Jack’s Law is Jack’s legacy.
“And hopefully, it’s one that will save countless lives.”
State Member for Capalaba Russell Field praised the Beasleys for their tireless advocacy and said the law was helping restore safety to public places.
He said the law gave police the tools they needed to intercept dangerous weapons before violence occurred and had already helped take hundreds of weapons off the streets.
“Jack’s parents, Brett and Belinda Beasley, are an outstanding couple who have fought in the face of heartache to make Jack’s Law permanent,” he said.
“My wife and I have supported Brett and Belinda from day one.
“I was privileged to be part of the process to make Jack’s Law permanent.
“It empowers police to detect deadly weapons in all public places, and I’m glad it’s doing the job.”
Since Jack’s Law was first introduced statewide in April 2023, police have scanned more than 133,970 people, seized over 1260 weapons and charged more than 3380 people with more than 6160 offences.
