Proposed new laws which enable WA Police to detect knives and other concealed weapons have been introduced into Western Australia’s Parliament this week.
The legislation is set to see WA impose the strictest knife crime laws of any Australian jurisdiction.
Using walk-through or hand-held metal detectors, officers will be authorised to carry out checks anytime, anywhere, within Protected Entertainment Precincts (PEPs) or rapidly established short-term knife scan zones.
Short-term zones can be stood up in any publicly accessed location, by a WA Police Officer ranked inspector or above, such as shopping centres, bus stops, train stations, and sporting, community or entertainment events.
“Our five PEPs in Northbridge-Perth, Mandurah, Scarborough, Hillarys and Joondalup will become permanent knife scan areas but unlike other states, WA Police will be able to launch a short-term zone in any public location as operationally required,” Police Minister Paul Papalia said.
“It means police officers can scan anywhere, anytime to help keep Western Australians safe.”
Refusal to participate in a scan or produce an object if directed is an offence which will carry a penalty of up to 12 months jail and/or fine of up to $12,000.
Western Australia’s knife scan legislation was inspired by ‘Jack’s Law’ in Queensland, created in response to the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Jack Beasley on the Gold Coast in 2019.
“Western Australians have a right to feel safe in public, whether they’re visiting an entertainment area, shopping centre, train station or community event,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“My government’s knife crackdown includes significant jailtime for the illegal possession of an edged weapon and I make no apology for targeting thugs who think it’s ok to be armed in public.”
The Police Legislation Amendment Bill includes a new ‘edged weapon’ offence, which increases penalties for individuals caught carrying an edged weapon without a lawful excuse to a maximum of three years imprisonment and fine of $36,000.
Maximum penalties for anyone caught with a prohibited weapon (such us ballistic knives and knuckle knives) or selling an edged weapon to a person under the age of 18 also increase significantly under the proposed laws.
