Minns Labor Government’s legislation for permanent powers targeting knife crime passes Parliament

In 2024, the Government introduced a knife scanning trial modelled on 'Jack's Law' in Queensland. Yesterday afternoon, new laws passed NSW Parliament making this trial permanent.

The reforms also strengthen the scheme and give police greater powers to conduct knife scanning operations where and when they need to.

They follow the successful knife scanning trial, a statutory review, and a recommendation from the Bondi Junction Coronial Inquest to consider making the laws permanent. 

Police now have permanent powers to declare certain public areas as 'designated areas' where they can stop and scan people using handheld metal-detectors.

These powers are in addition to existing police search powers, which they can exercise anywhere, anytime, when they have reasonable grounds to do so.

The Government's legislation expands the areas where scanning can occur to major entertainment venues and associated areas. These are in addition to shopping centres, public transport stations and sporting venues.

Additional areas can also be made 'declared areas' where knife scanning can occur by way of regulation upon the advice of NSW Police.

The Government's reforms strengthen knife scanning powers by lowering the threshold of who can approve operations, and allow police to declare areas for up to 24 hours instead of 12.

These reforms ensure knife scanning can occur in areas where there are real risks to public safety without imposing an unwarranted intrusion on law-abiding citizens going about their day.

Since April 2023, the NSW Police Force has seized more than 15,000 knives from public places.

The Government's legislation builds on earlier reforms to curb violence and remove dangerous weapons from our streets, including doubling maximum penalties for knife crime and increasing penalties for the sale of knives to children.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

"We introduced knife wanding powers two years ago to give police another tool to tackle knife crime. We have now made those powers permanent and stronger.

"Let me be very clear: Police can already wand anyone, anywhere, anytime, where they have reasonable grounds to do so. These new laws give officers an additional power to scan people during declared operations.

"We are also doubling the length of declarations, expanding where operations can occur and making the powers easier for police to use.

"While I am pleased the Liberals and Nationals voted for the laws, it should not be forgotten that they failed to act on knife crime for the 12 years they governed."

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

"Making the knife scanning trial permanent is common sense and brings us in line with other Australian jurisdictions.

"This legislation gives police the powers they need to continue targeting knife crime and removing dangerous weapons from our streets.

"Our Government has taken knife crime seriously, doubling maximum penalties for knife possession, prohibiting the sale of knives to 16- and 17-year-olds and now making knife scanning powers permanent.

"The message is clear: if you are illegally carrying a knife or other weapon in NSW, you can expect to be caught, arrested and charged."