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Increased police search powers might have prevented the random stabbing of a woman in Melbourne’s CBD two weeks ago, according to Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin.
Standing at the site of where Wan Lai, 36, was stabbed as she walked towards work on Little Bourke Street on October 2, Battin on Friday brandished a metal-detecting wand of the type he has pledged to introduce as part of increased police powers if elected next year.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin with a metal-detecting wand used by police in Queensland.Credit: Alex Coppel
The so-called Jack’s Law – introduced in Queensland in 2023 following the stabbing death of Jack Beasley in 2019 – would give police the power to use metal detectors to search people anywhere in the state where knife crime is considered a risk.
“It is so important the Victoria Police can go out to the street to take knives off the offenders because the violent crime we’ve seen across Victoria cannot continue to go in the direction it is without the government reacting,” Battin said.
“So we say to the Allan Labor government, have a look at what’s happening in Queensland. They’re reducing violent crime on the streets each and every day. It’s because the police have the powers, with Jack’s Law, and the wands, to take the knives off the most dangerous criminals, and more importantly, it puts a bigger police presence in the areas of high knife crime, and that police presence is deterring crime and keeping the community safer.”
Vision provided to The Age shows Lai walking in Little Bourke Street near Spencer Street about 7.40am on October 2, when a woman dressed in black runs up to her, gets her attention and then appears to thrust something into her right shoulder.
What appears to be a blade is seen glinting in the light as Lai recoils. The woman then runs off with the knife, before a third woman comes to Lai’s aid.
Nine News reports that Lai had just left her apartment and was on her way to work at a sushi restaurant. She suffered a punctured lung but has since returned home from hospital.
In response to the incident, Premier Jacinta Allan took to social media on Thursday evening and said: “This act of violence on Little Bourke Street is absolutely sickening. I send my support to the victim of this crime and their family.
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“No one who commits brazen, violent acts like this should be on the streets. The accused offender is currently on remand awaiting court. I thank the men and women of Victoria Police for their swift response.”
Battin on Friday said the metal-detecting wands would have made a “big difference” in the CBD, as police would be able to search people and take knives off the street.
“Will it stop every bit of crime? Probably not – but what it will do is send a clear message that Victoria Police are going to take knives off those that are the most serious offenders here in the state,” he said.
“The victims I’ve spoken to are sick of hearing the premier say she supports them, when the reality is they just want legislation and changes to laws to give police powers to keep the community safer or to take violent criminals off the street.”
Police have charged a 32-year-old woman over the October 2 stabbing. She faced court the next day and was remanded in custody.
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