WATCH: Spike in knife crime includes kids as young as 13 found with knives

Police have issued a warning to the community after recording a spike in knife-related incidents across the ACT in recent weeks.

These have even included police catching children with knives.

“In the past five weeks, police have responded to carjackings, assaults and burglaries involving knives,” an ACT Policing spokesperson said on Tuesday (28 January).

Over these few weeks, police seized 48 knives and found children as young as 13 to be carrying knives.

The many incidents involving the weapons include an alleged carjacking late last year.

The police spokesperson said that on 23 December 2024, two men were sitting in a parked car in Macgregor when they were allegedly threatened at knifepoint by a group who demanded they got out before the group allegedly stole the vehicle.

On 31 December 2024, police allegedly found a man with an 18-cm knife after he got into an argument with his partner at Gungahlin Marketplace.

There was also an incident that took place during the Summernats car festival earlier this month.

On 3 January 2025, police allegedly found a festival attendee had a 10-cm folding knife in her bag. She told police she had it for protection.

“We know the devastating consequences that knife crime can have, including serious injury or even death,” ACT Policing’s Inspector Nigel Booth said.

“A knife escalates what is likely already a serious situation and should be treated like dangerous weapons, not a fashion accessory.

“Another concern is that people have been caught carrying knives in crowded places which carries an additional element of risk to the public.”

Knives have featured in murders in the ACT.

For instance, Frederick Elijah Mercy Tuifua was sentenced to 20 years’ jail after killing Canberra Comanchero commander Pitasoni ‘Soni’ Ulavalu with a knife during a brawl in Kokomo’s in 2020.

The police spokesperson reminded the public that 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,” the police spokesperson said.

“Penalties include fines and imprisonment for up to six months.”

Late last year, a man who threatened his sister with a knife was sentenced to two months’ jail on charges of possessing an offensive weapon and disabling substances with intent.

In March 2022, then-30-year-old Brett Thomas McIntosh had also been sentenced to two months’ jail on a charge of possessing an offensive weapon with intent over a knife-related incident.

In 2021, then-24-year-old James Gary Taylor was sentenced to 18 months’ jail after attacking a man with a boxcutter in a Tuggeranong mall.