A 16-year-old boy is set to face weapons charges after police allege they found a machete on him during patrols in Sandy Bay on Friday.
Officers were carrying out high-visibility patrols in the area when they stopped the teenager and used handheld metal detection wands to search him.
The wands picked up a concealed metal object, which turned out to be a machete.
The boy will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act for weapons offences.
Sergeant Nick Grubb said the incident showed how effective proactive policing and metal detection technology could be.
“The use of metal detection wands provides our officers with an additional tool to identify dangerous weapons and help keep our community safe,” Sergeant Grubb said.
“Carrying weapons in public places is unacceptable and Tasmania Police will continue to conduct proactive patrols to detect and prevent this type of offending.”
“Community safety remains our priority, and we will continue to take action against those who choose to carry dangerous weapons,” he said.
Anyone with information about weapons-related offending is encouraged to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000.
