Police have seized multiple dangerous weapons from local train stations as part of intensified scanning operations across Brisbane’s suburbs, with incidents occurring at both Corinda and Oxley stations in recent weeks.
On 24 August, Sherwood police officers conducting weapons detection operations at Corinda train station allegedly discovered an axe and shears in the possession of a 42-year-old local man. The individual has been charged with two counts of possessing a knife in a public place and will appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 15 September.
Just days earlier, on 20 August, police conducting similar operations at Oxley train station detected an axe being carried by a 42-year-old Oxley resident. That individual was issued an adult caution for possessing a knife in a public place.
The seizures were part of Operation Marshall, the state-wide police initiative utilising Jack’s Law – legislation named in honour of Queensland teenager Jack Beasley who was stabbed and killed on the Gold Coast in 2019.
The law allows police to use hand-held metal detectors to identify and seize weapons from people in all public places, and became permanent across Queensland on 18 July this year.
Since the legislation’s expansion in July, Brisbane police have conducted more than 4,900 weapons scans, resulting in over 70 people being charged with nearly 140 offences. During this period, 28 weapons including axes, knives, knuckledusters and other dangerous items have been located and confiscated.
The weapons detection operations have been conducted across various locations including Safe Night Precincts, shopping centres, licensed venues, sporting facilities, public transport hubs and public areas extending to the Bay Islands.
In a separate incident on 22 August, Fortitude Valley police seized a flick knife during proactive patrols in the Fortitude Valley Safe Night Precinct. A 24-year-old Toowong man was charged with unlawful possession of weapons and will appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 9 September.
Police also conducted scanning operations on Russell Island over a two-week period, checking 65 people across public transport hubs and public spaces. Officers reported no edged weapons were discovered during the Bay Island deployment.
Jack’s Law was introduced in response to the tragic stabbing death of 17-year-old Jack Beasley in 2019, initially as a trial program on the Gold Coast before being expanded statewide. The original trial conducted between May 2021 and November 2022 resulted in 241 weapons being taken off the streets.
Brisbane police have indicated they will continue conducting proactive patrols and weapons detection operations to identify and remove dangerous items from public areas whilst educating the community about the risks of unlawfully carrying edged weapons.
The scanning operations use handheld metal detectors and typically take only a minute or two to complete, requiring no physical contact between police and members of the public.
Anyone with information for police can contact Policelink online at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
Reference numbers: QP2501501016, QP2501491168, QP2501476283
Published 27-August-2025
