# Victoria’s New Metal-Detecting Police Powers | Melbourne News

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838/victoria-s-new-metal-detecting-police-powers-melbourne-news.md
Podcast: [Melbourne News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838)
Published: 2026-09-16T12:07:41+00:00
Episode link: https://sources.thednn.ai/ea9058bdc72581e4
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/8c1216e6-d89a-4414-8e03-e7e8dbd72e7f.mp3
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Duration seconds: 106

## Resource

Victoria’s police are set to roll out metal-detecting wands for random public searches — a sweeping new power that lets officers scan anyone, anywhere, anytime for weapons. Backed by both government and opposition, this move mirrors Queensland’s “Jack’s Law,” introduced after a teen’s fatal stabbing, with the goal of stopping knife crime before it happens. Over 1,200 wands will be deployed, ready by early next year. But critics warn it could fuel harassment, disproportionately target marginalized communities, and fail to tackle the root causes of weapon carrying — despite evidence from Queensland showing few actual weapon finds and a heavy skew toward Indigenous males. The government insists it’s responding to public frustration and will ensure legal safeguards are in place. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/16/victoria-police-pso-stop-and-search-powers-jacks-law-labor-backflip More coverage & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/ea9058bdc72581e4 Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

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