Tasmania’s police union has welcomed the trial of weapon-detecting wands over the Christmas period to combat incidents of knife crime.
The wands will be used by officers to conduct non-invasive searches for knives and other weapons in key retail, night and public transport areas.
Police Association of Tasmania President Shane Tilley says the statistics and information that come out of the trial over the next few months will prove interesting.
“The two stabbing incidents on Hobart’s eastern shore [on Monday night] highlight the need for police officers to have tools at their disposal in public spaces to keep Tasmanians safe,” he said.
“Police officers already have the ability to stop and search people if there are reasonable grounds to do so, however the electronic wands make that process safer and less intrusive.”
Tilley says the target group won’t be mum and dad taking their kids down the street to go shopping, but those people already known to police and others suspected of carrying out suspicious activity.
Anyone found with knives or other weapons in public places will be subject to the Police Offences Act, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison or a maximum fine of $10,100.
“This initiative definitely passes the ‘pub test’, but it needs to be backed by stronger penalties to encourage behaviour change to keep the community safe,” Tilley said.
“The community should be able to go about their daily lives without the fear of interacting with people with dangerous weapons.”
