Police were carrying out a wanding operation at a licensed premises in the Townsville suburb of Hermit Park at 3.10am on Wednesday when they searched a man who had been playing at a poker machine.

Body-worn video footage showed an officer detecting a metal object under the man’s jumper, who told police the object was “just a knife”.

After placing the man under arrest, the footage showed the officer then pulling a large knife from the back of the man’s pants.

The 24-year-old man from Garbutt was charged with one count each of possessing a knife in a public place and possessing dangerous drugs.

He is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on October 21.

The wanding operation was carried out under Jack’s Law.

The legislation was introduced in response to the stabbing death of Jack Beasley in 2019.

The law allows police to conduct metal detection wanding operations in safe night precincts, on public transport and at public transport hubs.

“We have seen the devastating impacts from knife crime, including the lifelong trauma for victims, their families, and the community,” Inspector Jason Shepherd said.

“We want to send a very clear message to the community, that our ongoing wanding operations will continue and anyone carrying a knife in public will be put before the courts.”