Member for Swansea and Minister for Police Yasmin Catley Announces New Knife Laws

9 December 2024

newy.com.au – The tragic stabbing of 22-year-old James Callahan on Beaumont Street, Hamilton, in November 2024 has reignited concerns about knife crime in Newcastle, prompting swift government action. Yasmin Catley, the Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism and the Member for Swansea, a greater Newcastle electorate, has been at the forefront of implementing new measures to tackle this issue and protect local communities.

From Monday, 9 December 2024, NSW Police have been empowered with new wanding laws aimed at curbing knife crime. These laws, modelled after Queensland’s Jack’s Law, allow police to use handheld metal-detecting wands to scan individuals without a warrant in designated areas. Zones eligible for these powers include public transport stations, shopping precincts, night-time economy hotspots, and certain public events.

Catley, who has deep ties to the Newcastle area, spoke about the devastating toll knife crime takes on families and communities. “These new powers give police the tools they need to detect knives quickly and prevent violent incidents before they occur. This is about ensuring families like those in Newcastle and across the state don’t have to endure more tragedy,” she said.

Premier Chris Minns also acknowledged the cultural change the laws aim to bring about. “We’re sending a clear message, particularly to young people: if you’re going out, don’t carry a knife. There’s a high chance you’ll be scanned, and these laws will save lives.”

The measures include enabling senior officers to declare wanding zones for up to 12 hours, extendable if required, in areas where recent knife-related crimes or offences have occurred. This builds on the government’s other knife crime initiatives, such as doubling penalties for selling knives to minors, introducing offences for selling knives to individuals aged 16 or 17 without reasonable cause, and increasing police operations like Operation Foil, which recently resulted in the seizure of 51 knives and charges against 145 individuals.

For Newcastle residents, the new laws hit close to home, as Beaumont Street has been the scene of violence that has shocked the community. The hope is that these measures will bring a renewed sense of safety and prevent further tragedies.