A 13-year-old boy is among 32 people arrested following wanding operations during Schoolies on the Gold Coast after allegedly being found with a knife hidden in the sleeve of his jacket.
Officers have wanded 918 people across the Safe Night Precincts in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach since last Friday night.
Of the 32 people arrested, the majority were for breaches of bail and drug offences.
However, Police also located seven weapons during their wanding operation.
A 13-year-old Riverview boy was among a group of kids stopped on the Esplanade at Surfers on the evening of November 21 with officers locating a knife concealed in his jacket sleeve.
The boy was charged with one count each of possessing a knife in a public place and one count of attempted armed robbery and will front the Southport Children’s Court at a later date.
A 16-year-old boy was also allegedly caught with a knife in his bag on the Esplanade on November 22.
The teen from Wurtulla has been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
A 39-year-old man was allegedly found with a box cutter on Ferny Ave around 3pm on November.
He has been charged with one count of possessing a knife in a public place and is scheduled to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on December 14.
No Schoolies were found to be carrying weapons during the operation.
“Another big tick for our school leavers in that regard, and that just reinforces, again, our policing operations in keeping our school leavers safe,” Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said.
“Having knives in our public places is a huge concern at any time. Whilst the policing operation has been really successful, and we didn’t have any reports of injuries or wounding in our Safe Night Precinct or anything involving the schoolies of that nature, it is still very concerning.”
WATCH: 13yo among 32 people arrested during wanding operations
