New Knife Search ‘Wanding’ Powers Granted to NSW Police

Armed police patrol outside the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall after a stabbing incident in Sydney on April 13, 2024. David Gray/ AFP via Getty Images

Police in New South Wales (NSW) will be granted new “wanding” powers to search for knives in crowded areas without a warrant.

The news follows two recent stabbing attacks in Sydney, including the Bondi stabbing rampage that killed six people, and the knife attack on a Christian bishop.

Labor Premier Chris Minns announced the proposed laws on May 7 to help get knives off the street in Australia’s largest state.

The New South Wales Liberal Opposition called for new search powers for police in April, meaning the legislation will likely have bipartisan support.

The government is planning to develop legislation modelled on Queensland’s “Jack’s Law,” providing police with the power to “wand” or “scan” people for knives in crowded areas.

These areas could include transport hubs like train centres and shopping centres. The powers will be available in areas where knife or weapon crimes have occurred in the last six months.

Further, the government will also make it illegal to sell knives to children under 18, with exemptions available for youth who need a knife for work or study. Previously, youth aged 16 were able to gain access to knives.

Penalties for selling knives to under age youth will also increase, under the laws.

“I know that many in our community have followed the devastating media coverage and heard the stories of victims and families–tragically there have been so many recent examples,” Premier Minns said.

“Our communities are still in mourning, but it’s essential that we step up to take immediate action to send a clear message that NSW will simply not accept these kinds of crimes,” he said.

Law Change Comes Amid Knife Crackdown

The reforms build on measures taken by the government related to weapons in recent years. For example, in 2023, the government doubled the maximum penalties for knife related offences.

NSW Police also ran a targeted operation from April 11 to 13 in 2024, targeting knife crime and anti-social behavior.

The operation led to 51 knives and weapons being seized, and 145 people charged with weapon-related offences.

Attorney-General Michael Daley said the changes increase police powers, toughen penalties, and send a clear signal.

He added there are too many young people who “think it is okay” to put a knife into their pocket to carry out their daily business.

“The worrying thing is that, if they are open to carrying it, then they are probably open to using it. We want people to stop carrying knives, to leave them at home and to stop using them,” Mr. Daley said.

Overall, police have seized nearly 4,000 knives in public places in the past year, according to the government.

Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said the reforms sent a strong warning to would be perpetrators.

“These reforms will give police improved tools to quickly detect concealed knives and take action before a potential perpetrator has the chance to use them,” Ms. Catley said.

She added that she wanted the community to have the confidence to give the NSW Police Force all the tools required to combat violent crime.

The Stabbing Incidents

On April 13 2024, knife-wielding 40-year-old man Joel Cauchi went on a stabbing rampage, killing six people and wounding others.

The event shocked the tight knit community in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with a first-time mother—with her child at the time—among the victims.

The nine-month old baby was also stabbed, but was handed to strangers and has since been released from hospital.

Just two days later, a Assyrian Christian bishop was stabbed during a live-streamed of a service at a western Sydney church.

The 16-year-old boy has been charged with the Commonwealth offence of terrorism following the alleged attack.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has indicated he does not want footage of the incident removed from the internet, but the government is in an ongoing battle with social media companies including X over the  footage.

Opposition Supports New Police Powers

The Liberal-National opposition, led by Mark Speakman, urgently called for police wanding powers on April 24.

The opposition highlighted at the time that recent events in NSW warrant “tougher powers” for law enforcement to combat knife crime.

“Given the recent tragedy at Bondi Junction Westfield and the alleged terrorist event at Wakeley, the powers should be designed in the interests of public safety and to protect people who are lawfully going about their everyday lives,” the opposition said at the time.

“There are many circumstances where these powers would enhance public safety.”

Unions, including the Police Association of NSW, Health Services Union, and the Shop, Distributive, and Allied Employees’ association (SDA) had also called for new wanding powers.

In April, Police Association of NSW President Kevin Morton said the “non-intrusive” search measure would help their police officers prevent and disrupt knife related crime.

“This is a non-invasive scan that is already used at large scale events from concerts to sporting finals, from getting on a plane to walking into the Easter Show. Scanning for weapons is part of keeping the people of New South Wales safe,” he said.

NSW Health Services Union political division secretary Adam Hall added, “We can’t have a situation where people put on their jeans and sneakers and casually slip a knife into their back pocket. It’s just not on.”