Media Release: Back our Police with AnyWhere, Anytime Knife Wanding Powers

BACK OUR POLICE WITH ANYWHERE, ANYTIME KNIFE WANDING POWERS

Member for Albury Justin Clancy has called on the NSW Government to give police the flexibility to use handheld knife-scanning wands anywhere, at any time, where there is a genuine public safety risk.

Speaking during debate on the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Knife Scanning) Bill 2026, Mr Clancy said the Government was finally addressing shortcomings in its original legislation but still was not going far enough.

“The Opposition supported the introduction of knife wanding powers following the horrific Bondi Junction attack because they are a practical tool to help police prevent violence before it occurs,” Mr Clancy said.

“But when the legislation first came before Parliament in 2024, we warned that it placed unnecessary barriers in front of police by limiting where and when these powers could be used.”

“Two years later, the Government has effectively acknowledged those concerns by returning to amend its own legislation. Unfortunately, it still hasn’t finished the job.”

Mr Clancy said while the bill made sensible improvements including expanding eligible locations, extending declarations from 12 to 24 hours and making the scheme permanent, it continued to require police to navigate a declaration process before knife scanning powers could be used.

“Knife crime doesn’t wait for paperwork,” Mr Clancy said.

“A public safety risk can emerge quickly at a shopping centre, a transport hub, a community event or anywhere large numbers of people gather.”

“Our police make difficult operational decisions every day. We trust them to assess risks, respond to intelligence and protect the community. We should also trust them to decide when a handheld knife scanner is needed.”

Mr Clancy said the NSW Liberals and Nationals would move amendments to allow police to use knife-scanning wands in any public place where they reasonably believed there was a genuine public safety risk, while retaining the existing safeguards governing the use of the powers.

“These amendments don’t remove safeguards or create arbitrary search powers,” he said.

“They simply remove unnecessary bureaucracy and give police the operational flexibility they need to keep our communities safe.”

Mr Clancy said the issue was just as relevant in regional communities as it was in metropolitan Sydney.

“People in Albury should feel just as safe catching public transport, shopping in our CBD or attending local events as anyone else in New South Wales,” he said.

“Community safety shouldn’t depend on whether a location has first been declared on a piece of paper.”

“Knife crime can happen anywhere, at any time. Our police should have the ability to respond accordingly.”