A year after WA Police were given powers to search for weapons, how effective has it been?

A meat cleaver in a homemade sheath - a machete, handle wrapped in an Australian flag, and a tree axe; they’re some of the confronting weapons once hidden in bags and pockets on WA streets - taken away since new wanding laws came into effect 12 months ago.

According to the latest statistics WA Police have carried out 102,034 metal detector scans across WA, uncovering 228 edged weapons.

Wanding laws came into effect a year ago.Credit: 9 News Perth

The legislation is modelled on Queensland’s “jacks law” - brought in after teenager Jack Beasley was stabbed and killed on a night out on the Gold Coast in 2019.

It gives Police the power to use metal detectors on people in Protected Entertainment Precincts from Hillarys to Mandurah.

Senior officers are also able to declare temporary scanning zones anywhere in public.

Police Minister Reece Whitby says the statistics show the laws are proving successful.

Hundreds of edged weapons have been seized.Credit: 9 News Perth

“They give police the ability to simply wand someone and if they’re armed, they’re gone.” he said.

WA’s hidden weapon hotspot - the Perth party precinct - 46,055 scans carried out, uncovering 135 edged weapons.

Looking at a haul of some of the seized weapons at Perth Police Station - Acting Senior Sergeant Dave Ball from WA Police said “it beggars belief that we have a party precinct and we’ve got people coming into this area armed with stuff like this”.

Whitby said while the haul of weapons is confronting, people in Perth have a reason to feel safe, with only a small number of patrons carrying around edged weapons.

“102,000 scans have occurred, 228 weapons seized,” he said.

“The vast majority of people we see in the city are not armed, are not carrying weapons.”

1,926 charges were dished out across WA as a result of the searches - most of those for possessing a weapon or drugs.

Acting Senior Sergeant Dave Ball says the scans have been successful on the beat.

“The public have been extremely receptive and we pretty much have no issues at all,” he said.

In the last year, only 14 people have been charged with failing to comply with the scans.

And with the party season in full swing - Police warn patrols will be ramped up to ensure everyone can celebrate safely.

“It promotes community safety - we want individuals that are legitimately coming out to the party precinct to feel safe,” Ball said.

With 9 News Perth.

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