December 2024 marked a new chapter in NSW policing. For the first time, officers can stop and scan people in designated areas with slim electronic “wands.” These handheld metal detectors were legislated under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) and Other Legislation Amendment (Knife Crime) Bill 2024, a measure to tackle rising knife crime.
The concept is not new. Queensland introduced “Jack’s Law” in 2022, named after 18-year-old Jack Beasley, who died from stab wounds in 2019. NSW Premier Chris Minns has described the reform as a “world-leading” deterrent: fewer knives in pockets, fewer tragedies on the street.
Where and How Can Police Wand You?
These powers are not a free pass for police to scan anyone, anywhere. A senior officer (sergeant or higher) must first declare a designated area for up to 12 hours, extendable if criteria are met. Eligible zones include:
- Public transport hubs and vehicles (within two stops).
- Shopping centres and nightlife precincts.
- Sporting venues, concerts, and roads are designated by regulation.
In practice, you can expect to be wanded at Central Station, on a bus, or when entering a stadium.
Within a declared zone, police must:
- Identify themselves and their station.
- Activate their body-worn camera.
- Use the scanner in the “least invasive way practicable.”
They should also explain why you are being stopped.
If the wand beeps, you must reveal the item. A personal search may follow under existing LEPRA powers if reasonable suspicion arises. Refusal without a reasonable excuse can attract fines up to $5,500 and possible arrest.
The First Results: Operation Ames
The inaugural test, Operation Ames, took place at Sydney’s Central Station just days after the law commenced. Of 382 people scanned, 12 were searched and 10 charged, most with weapons or drug possession. Seized items included two knives, a taser, and eight slingshots.
Since then, NSW Police have run 34 operations, scanning over 4,000 people across the state. The results: 91 unlawful weapons seized and 67 people charged. Confiscated items included tasers, knuckle dusters, a machete, and folding kitchen knives.
For the Minns Government, these early figures show “tough knife laws working” and visible policing making communities safer.
Rights, Risks and Responsibilities
While politicians frame wanding as a safety tool, critics sound a note of caution. The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) warns that wanding risks worsening racial profiling and the over-policing of youth and minority communities. Critics also point to the danger of “fishing expeditions,” where wanding becomes a pretext for more intrusive searches.
Balancing Act: Safety and Liberty
Knife crime has long cast a dark shadow over NSW, from stabbings to nightlife violence. Few deny urgent action is needed. But does the blanket scanning of commuters, shoppers, and festivalgoers strike the right balance between liberty and security?
The laws are in a two-year trial phase, with a full review to follow. Whether wanding remains a permanent fixture of policing will depend on that outcome.
If you or someone you know needs advice in this or any area of Criminal Law, you can contact our Sutherland office by calling 9525 8688 or by emailing kevin@wmdlaw.com.au
References
Australian Law Advocates, NSW Police authorised to address knife crime through use of metal-detecting wands on members of the community (14 January 2025) https://australianlawadvocates.com.au/nsw-police-authorised-to-address-knife-crime-through-use-of-metal-detecting-wands-on-members-of-the-community
Jones Hardy Law, Wanded Without a Warrant: Your Legal Rights Under NSW’s New Knife Detection Laws (2025) https://joneshardylaw.com.au/wanded-without-a-warrant-your-legal-rights-under-nsws-new-knife-detection-laws
Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited, New police knife-scanning powers: what you need to know (9 December 2024) https://www.alsnswact.org.au/police-knife-scanning-powers
NSW Government, New police wanding powers tackling knife crime across the state (Ministerial Release, 18 March 2025) https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/new-police-wanding-powers-tackling-knife-crime-across-state
NSW Government, NSW Government passes law introducing police ‘wanding’ search powers (Ministerial Release, 6 June 2024) https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/nsw-government-passes-law-introducing-police-wanding-search-powers
