The Victorian premier has reversed course on knife-search policies, pledging to adopt the Coalition’s proposal for police and protective services officers to conduct random searches using handheld metal detectors—a measure critics argue lacks strong evidence for reducing violent crime. The move aligns Labor’s stance with Queensland’s Jack’s Law, introduced after a fatal stabbing in 2019, despite ongoing debates over its effectiveness. With the government now matching opposition commitments, the decision could reshape public safety approaches in the state. Supporters argue it strengthens policing powers, while opponents question the lack of proven impact on crime rates.
Premier Ben Carroll adopts Coalition’s stance on Jack’s Law, which gives police and PSOs power to randomly search people for knives with metal detectorsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian premier has made another policy backflip, announcing a re-elected Labor government would give police and protective services officers the power to stop and search people for knives using handheld metal detectors – despite experts warning of a lack of evidence that the measure reduces violent crime.Ben Carroll on Wednesday announced he would match a commitment made by the Coalition opposition last year to introduce Queensland’s Jack’s Law, named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley, who was fatally stabbed in Surfers Paradise in 2019. Continue reading...
