Tasmania Police are reporting positive results from a trial of weapon-detecting wands that has successfully removed a number of knives from Hobart streets.
The non-invasive search program, which began late last year, allows officers to scan individuals for concealed weapons.
Acting Sergeant Katie Swift said officers from Taskforce Reprisal have deployed the wands in high-traffic areas throughout Hobart’s CBD.
“Last Saturday, the taskforce conducted twenty searches using metal detection wands and located three knives,” she said.
“These searches were conducted as part of the taskforce’s focus on public order offences and retail theft in the Hobart area.”
Swift noted that in just one month of operation, the taskforce has seized ten weapons from about 50 public place searches.
“There is no excuse for carrying weapons without a legal reason and police will continue to target those who do,” she said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Operations Peter Harriss in January said feedback on the trial, scheduled to wrap-up in early April, has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The police power to conduct searches is not new and the laws about carrying a knife or other edged weapon have not changed,” he said.
“However, the use of hand-held wands has proven to be a safer and less intrusive method for both the community and our police officers.”
