WA Police may be given new powers to search for weapons. Photo: File.
Proposed new laws which enable WA Police to carry out non-invasive scans to detect knives and other concealed weapons have been introduced into Western Australia’s Parliament.
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.
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 a fine of up to $12,000.
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.
Premier Roger Cook said Western Australians had the right to feel safe in public.
“These proactive laws will give WA Police greater powers to find and seize dangerous weapons hidden on a person or in their belongings,” he 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.”
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.
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 as 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.
Police Minister Paul Papalia welcomed the proposal.
“This legislation enables WA Police to better detect knives or other weapons which are easy to conceal and creates greater deterrence for those who might be thinking about illegally carrying such items in public,” he said.
“Our five protected entertainment precincts 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.
“It means police officers can scan anywhere, anytime to help keep Western Australians safe.”
