Police to get extra search powers in tough new knife laws being introduced in South Australia in 2025

Knives, such as these already confiscated by South Australian police, would be targeted by tougher laws introduced by the South Australia government in 2025, giving police extra search powers.
Image courtesy 7News Adelaide

South Australia introduced the toughest knife laws in Australia to its parliament in 2025, with increased police powers to conduct searches. 

The comprehensive package of measures within the laws were developed by the state government after extensively consulting with South Australia police and the wide community.

Under the proposed reforms:

• Police would have greater power to conduct wanding (body scanning with electronic devices) searches at shopping centres, public transport hubs, on public transport vehicles and at licensed premises.
• It would be an offence to supply a knife to a minor, where the supplier knew or ought to have known that the knife could be used in an offence.
• The sale of knives to minors will be banned, without exception.
• Offences for carrying and using knives at schools and public places would be expanded to cover childcare centres, preschools, kindergartens, universities and TAFE (Technical and further education) SA campuses.
• Stores selling certain types of knives would need to keep them securely locked up or tethered.
• The display of signs stating that knives cannot be sold to minors would be mandated at any retail premises selling knives.

Police commissioner Grant Stevens told The Advertiser newspaper, Adelaide, that senior officers would be able to declare areas with mass gatherings as a temporary public precinct, allowing officers to put the new knife powers into action: “It gives police one more tool to make sure that we’re identifying people who may be putting other people’s safety at risk.”