Watch Harry O'Brien address the media during the launch of the partnership

The Brumby Labor Government and the Collingwood Football Club have joined forces as part of the ongoing campaign to stamp out knife crime and discourage young Victorians from carrying weapons.

Enlisting the help of Magpies’ star Harry O’Brien, the campaign speaks directly to young people about the dangers of carrying weapons.

Acting Premier Rob Hulls and Police Minister Bob Cameron together with Collingwood President Eddie McGuire today launched the partnership, which will formally kick off this Friday at the blockbuster Knives Scar Lives themed match between Collingwood and Geelong.

“The Knives Scar Lives themed match is dedicated to victims of knife crime and highlights the message that carrying and using knives and other dangerous weapons is not acceptable and not a way to deal with issues in our society,” Mr Hulls said.

“This is a significant partnership which will go a long way towards changing the perception that carrying a knife offers some form of self defence, particularly among young people.

“Too many young people see knives as defensive weapons or think carrying a knife somehow makes them cool or tough. The reality is knives are offensive weapons that can be used against them with deadly consequences.”

Mr Cameron said the partnership announcement followed a targeted effort by the Brumby Labor Government and Victoria Police to stamp out knife violence, including holding a weapons amnesty during April.

“Victoria Police’s April weapons amnesty saw 810 knives, edged and other dangerous weapons surrendered to police - an increase of 356 or 78 per cent on the same weapon categories surrendered during last year’s October amnesty,” he said.

“This means more dangerous weapons are off the street and out of harm’s way and we want to continue working with the Victoria Police and the community to drive down knife crime further.

“That’s why we have introduced tough new weapons search laws and powers for police, to reinforce the message that it’s not acceptable in Victoria to be carrying weapons, and this is now backed with $1000 on-the-spot fines for being caught with a weapon.”

Collingwood President Eddie McGuire said the club was committed to being part of a partnership that aimed to help keep young people safe.

“Knife violence is a very important issue in our community and we will work with the Victorian Government to help get the message across that carrying a knife is not acceptable and that producing a knife, or any weapon, only makes a bad situation worse,” Mr McGuire said.

Harry O’Brien urged young people to abandon their knives and to walk away when a confrontation escalated.

“I’ve seen first-hand street violence. I’ve seen fights that can escalate into stabbings. It’s terrifying and the greatest form of self defence is having the power to walk away,” O’Brien said.

Mr Cameron said police currently had the power to perform unplanned random weapons searches and also to designate public events or areas such as train stations a week in advance for a search.

The new powers mean:
• Police can issue $1000 on-the-spot fines for first offences for anyone aged 16 or above caught carrying a controlled knife or weapon, and a $2000 on-the-spot fine where caught in or around licensed premises;
• Police will more easily be able to designate a public place such as a train station for a random weapons search without notice; and
• No-one under the age of 18 will be legally permitted to buy a knife or any other prohibited or controlled weapon.

Mr Cameron said the Brumby Labor Government was committed to giving Victoria Police the powers and resources they needed to continue driving down crime in Victoria and had funded the biggest single one-off boost to police numbers in Victorian history in the State Budget.

“Our Government will deliver 1,966 additional frontline police over five years as the centrepiece of a record $2 billion Victoria Police 2010-11 budget to help make Victoria’s streets and communities safer,” Mr Cameron said.

“While Victoria is the safest state in Australia, we want to drive down crime even further, so Victorians not only are safe, but they also feel safe.”



Rob Hulls (Acting Premier, Attorney General), Harry O'Brien, Bob Cameron (Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Corrections) and Wayne Ashley (Superintendent of the Victoria Police) inspect several knives the police have found on the public.