<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337134</docID> <postdate>2025-01-28 11:37:55</postdate> <headline>Knife spike: police seize 48 blades in five weeks</headline> <body><div id="component_277675"> <div> <p><strong>Police have seized 48 knives in the past five weeks and they say, concerningly, children as young as 13 have been found carrying knives.</strong></p> </div> <div> <p>In a spike in incidents involving knives, police have responded to carjackings, assaults and burglaries.</p> </div> <div> <ul> <li><em>On December 23, two men sitting in a parked car in Macgregor were threatened at knifepoint by a group who stole the vehicle.</em></li> <li><em>In another incident on December 31, a man was found to be in possession of a 18cm knife after having an argument with his partner at Gungahlin Marketplace.</em></li> <li><em>On January 3, a 10cm folding knife was found in the bag of a Summernats attendee who told police she had it for protection.</em></li> </ul> </div> <div> <p>Insp Nigel Booth said: “We know the devastating consequences that knife crime can have, including serious injury or even death.</p> </div> <div> <p>“A knife escalates what is likely already a serious situation and should be treated like dangerous weapons, not a fashion accessory.</p> </div> <div> <p>“Another concern is that people have been caught carrying knives in crowded places which carries an additional element of risk to the public.â€</p> </div> <div> <p>Police say it is a serious offence to possess a knife in public where a person has no reasonable excuse to do so. "Personal protection" is not a lawful reason to carry a knife. Penalties include fines and imprisonment for up to six months.</p> </div> </div> </body>