Violent crime involving young people is causing significant community concern in Victoria.

The recent fatal stabbings of two boys in Cobblebank, along with the high rates of youth involvement in robberies and aggravated burglaries, has fuelled calls for “Jack’s Law” to be introduced in Victoria.

Jack’s Law would give police powers to conduct random, non-invasive wanding searches (using handheld electronic metal detectors) for knives and other weapons in public spaces, similar to random breath testing.

Read more: The Jack's Law expansion is a symbolic step – it's not a solution to knife crime

The push for ‘Jack’s Law’ in Victoria

Jack’s Law was first trialled in 2021 and locked in permanently in Queensland by mid-2025. Versions of Jack’s Law have since been copied in New South Wales, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

A change.org petition titled “Jack’s Law for Victoria – End Knife Crime” has rapidly gained momentum, with more than 8,000 verified signatures.

Premier Jacinta Allan is weighing up the proposal.

People are understandably worried about the rise in knife-related offences in Victoria, so tougher laws might feel like the obvious fix.

But the evidence doesn’t really back that up.

A review of the recent Queensland Police wanding trial found no proof it actually stopped people from carrying knives or reduced violent crime.

What it did do was make people feel safer, largely because of the increased police presence and media attention around it.

But focusing only on harsher policing risks overlooking the bigger picture.

Knife laws mask the real issues

For many young people, carrying a knife is tied up with trying to navigate poverty, school disengagement and housing instability. Research backs this up.

A 2009 Melbourne study of Year 9 students from disadvantaged backgrounds found those caught up in delinquent peer groups were more likely to carry knives.

More recently in NSW, a report showed how housing instability makes it harder for young people to stay engaged at school. When kids facing homelessness or insecure housing act out, the usual response is often suspension, but that just pushes them further away rather than helping them stay connected and supported.

The United Kingdom Youth Justice Board found kids don’t carry knives for just one reason. Carrying a knife to navigate social and economic hardships can feel like a way to cope, even if it puts young people at greater risk.

Of course, it’s worth stressing that most young people, even in tough circumstances, don’t carry weapons at all.

But we risk reinforcing cycles of over-policing young people if we only zero in on more police powers. This will likely lead to mistrust of police and won’t address the real reasons knives are carried in the first place.

How tougher laws undermine trust

While stop-and-search tactics might seem like a good fix, they often end up unfairly targeting young people in marginalised communities.

Take NSW, for example. Between 2020 and 2023, First Nations people were 5.6 times more likely to be stopped and searched than Caucasian people, despite making up just 3.4% of the population.

That kind of disproportionate use of power reinforces systemic racism and sends a clear message to Indigenous young people that their rights aren’t being respected.

The same pattern is apparent overseas.

In England and Wales, police carried out more than half a million stop-and-searches in one year (mid 2022-mid 2023).

It was found those with Black and Asian geographic ancestry were stopped and searched much more regularly than the overall average and the white population.

It’s clear certain communities and certain demographics carry the heaviest burden of policing.

For young people, being stopped again and again doesn’t build safety. It risks alienation and mistrust.

Trust is important for young people to feel safe, respected, and that they actually belong in society.

Without that trust, police tactics risk making the problems we are trying to solve worse.

Real pathways to safety

After the fatal machete attack in Cobblebank, South Sudanese community leaders urged the government to focus on long-term solutions rather than quick crackdowns.

They made the point that prison only exacerbates problems and argued for more support in schools and communities to stop violence before it starts.

Real safety comes from changing the conditions that push young people to carry knives in the first place. Investing in housing, education and jobs gives young people stability and reduces the fear that fuels violence.

Mentoring programs work. A 2021 report by the NSW Government showed mentoring programs were linked with reduced youth justice involvement, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, especially those featuring strong mentor screening, training, life-skills development and community engagement.

Mentoring, as well as trauma-informed counselling and diversion schemes, can help young people feel supported and rebuild trust. Not only in the adults around them, but also in community services and justice systems that often feel stacked against them.

Schools and community organisations also play a significant role by creating a sense of belonging and giving young people practical skills to manage conflict without violence.

If Victoria puts its energy and resources into prevention and support, instead of symbolic policing powers, we could move towards a safer, fairer community – one that deals with the root causes of youth violence, not just the symptoms.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Joel Robert McGregor, Swinburne University of Technology

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Joel Robert McGregor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.