Multiple reports of students carrying replica weapons in Lower Hunter schools has prompted an appeal from police.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They’re not toys, they’re prohibited weapons.
- Detective Inspector George Radmore
There have been four reports of teenage boys carrying replica butterfly knives – which are illegal despite being blunt – across the region so far this school year.
One replica knife has been confiscated, and Central Hunter crime manager Detective Inspector George Radmore has launched an appeal for any remaining replica folding knives to be handed in to police.
Butterfly knives, also known as ‘balisongs’, have two handles attached to a blade or spike by transverse pivot pins.
They come in many different styles, but are all designed to be opened with one hand.
The replicas are easy and cheap to buy online from overseas vendors, some for as little as $3.
Inspector Radmore said police were concerned on several fronts.
He said replicas could teach young people how to use a real butterfly knife, they could be easily sharpened and they could be used to threaten people in a similar way that replica guns are sometimes used in crimes.
“They’re not toys, they’re prohibited weapons,” he said.
“They’re not a cool thing to have.
“Kids can get in trouble for them and essentially it’s breaking the law to import them and have them.
“There’s no real cause for having them – if you need a knife there are plenty of non-prohibited-weapon knives out there. You wouldn’t use it for fishing, you wouldn’t use it for hunting, you wouldn’t use it for cutting your fruit up. It’s a specific type of knife that’s designed to be a weapon.”
Inspector Radmore said no young people had been charged over the reports but police were focused on taking the weapons out of the community. He said people in possession of a replica butterfly knife should hand it in at Maitland Police Station and officers would “use discretion” and not press charges if they weapon had not been used to harm or threaten people.