Gold Coast knife crime sees five deadly stabbings in 12 months

They're easily concealed and capable of killing — and carrying a knife in public has become increasingly popular.

More than 450 people were charged with carrying a knife in a public place on the Gold Coast alone in the last financial year.

That's more than one a day, but some of the state's most senior cops are worried about how many more aren't busted.

Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said he could not believe the numbers.

"The people we speak to clearly articulate that it's about defence, so defence of what? The Gold Coast and Queensland is one of the safest places in the world," Mr Smith said.

On the glitter strip there have been five stabbing deaths in the past 12 months.

Harrison Geppert, 17 (September 2019), Jack Beasley, 17 (December 2019), Nicholas Braid, 35 (April 2020), Cian English, 19 (May 2020) and Raymond Harris, 27 (September 2020), have been the victims.

Brett and Belinda Beasley, Jack's parents, want police to have more powers to search in public.

"Something has to be done, it's got to be done." Mr Beasley said.

Police say it was a 15-year-old armed with a hunting knife who stabbed Jack to death. His parents are also calling for a court crackdown.

"Because they're juveniles they get nothing and it's wrong," Mr Beasley said.

"Maybe if they were a little bit harsher with the penalties of these sorts of things, maybe kids will think twice about it," Mrs Beasley said.

Police say the best weapon in the knives battle is education — and the classroom is social media.

"So we need to use those platforms to reach these kids, they need to see the outcomes of their behaviour," Mr Smith said.