Townsville police have arrested more than 1,400 people in just two months as part of a major crackdown on property crime, domestic violence, and bail breaches.
Since August 9, officers have laid over 4,000 charges and carried out more than 2,300 bail checks, targeting offenders across the city.
As part of the operation, police have also been conducting wanding operations under Jack’s Law—a legislation that allows officers to use handheld metal detectors to scan for knives and weapons in public areas like shopping centres, entertainment venues, transport hubs, and the Safe Night Precinct.
From over 3,000 scans, police have seized 28 weapons.
Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said the results show the patrols are working and the feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We want to get the message out, if you’re caught carrying a knife in public, you risk a large fine or jail time,” he said.
“We’ve seen the devastating impacts of knife crime not just on victims, but on families and the wider community. Our goal is to make the community safer and also feel safer.”
Police say they will continue to target key offences and maintain a strong presence in high-traffic areas to deter crime and ensure community safety.
