Three knives have been found at Queensland public transport stops by police using metal detection wands in the first such operation since officers’ search powers were expanded.
Police searched close to 600 people across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville over the Easter weekend and found six knives.
“We’re very pleased with the results, but our ultimate aim is, of course, to see no one carrying knives and those six knives that were detected, that’s absolutely six too many,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler told reporters on Tuesday.
“By detecting those six knives and taking them from the people who are carrying them, we know that we could have saved lives just over the weekend.”
Last month state parliament passed laws allowing officers to randomly search people in nightlife precincts and on public transport networks.
One of the weapons was discovered on someone at the Willows Shopping Centre bus stop in Townsville, and another two were being carried by people at the Brunswick Street railway station in Brisbane.
The other knives were found in nightlife areas in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley and in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
Several folded-blade knives were among those detected.
Officers on the Gold Coast had previously used the powers to undertake random searches under a trial in the Gold Coast’s safe night precincts, in which 266 weapons were seized.
Those caught with a knife in public face a fine of almost $6000 (US$ 4000) or a year in prison.
