PSO strike teams will patrol high-risk shopping centres and precincts to protect shoppers and workers while sending a message to criminals, as part of the Liberals and Nationals retail crime crackdown.
Backed by Jack's Law, the 200 additional PSOs will have the authority, and the technology, to remove knives and machetes from criminals before they are used to commit a crime.
Our plan is fully budgeted and won't see a single PSO removed from our public transport system.
We will work with Victoria Police to ensure the program is operationally rolled out in areas experiencing high crime and need.
Jacinta Allan's crime crisis has turned Victoria into the worst place to shop, with 99,114 offences recorded in retail-store settings in Victoria in the year to June, an increase of 20 per cent.
Retail thefts were up 26 per cent and retail assaults up 21 per cent, according to the Victoria Government's Crime Statistics Agency's data.
Machete crimes and gang violence have become all too common at shopping centres because of Labor's soft on crime approach.
- Innocent shoppers locked themselves in stores as two groups armed with machetes clashed at Broadmeadows Central Shopping Centre, on 11 October 2025.
- A group of males armed with machetes caused a lock down at Caroline Springs Shopping Centre, on 6 June 2025.
- One man was seriously injured following a brawl between two gangs armed with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre, on 25 May 2025.
- A 15‑year‑old boy was arrested for threatening shoppers with a machete at Watergardens Shopping Centre, on 4 May 2024.
- Fighting teenagers armed with machetes caused a lockdown at Woodgrove Shopping Centre, on 16 January 2024.
An elected Brad Battin government will also introduce Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs) to ban abusive or violent offenders from shops and shopping centres or from contacting staff, following extensive consultation with the sector.
We will create new offences for assaulting, threatening or harassing customer-facing workers and bring the penalties in line with other states.
And we will establish a dedicated digital platform where staff and employers can report abuse and crime, upload evidence and apply for WPOs directly through Victoria Police systems.
Australia's leading retailers, including Woolworths, BWS, Bunnings and Coles, have written to the Labor Government begging for action on retail crime, saying: Without urgent action from the Victorian Government, these already alarming trends will continue to worsen. This will further impact the safety of retail workers, the viability of businesses, and community confidence across the state.
We have listened to the concerns of retailers and retail workers and will take action to protect them.
The Liberals and Nationals will always be tougher on crime and smarter on just than Labor because we are driven by listening to Victorians not opinion polls.
Opposition leader Brad Battin said: "Jacinta Allan has been soft on crime leading to our current crime crisis. Labor did nothing in over a decade to protect shoppers and retail workers.
"My government will put PSOs into shopping malls to protect shoppers and keep the PSOs at train stations to protect commuters.
"Only we will introduce Jack's Law to give PSOs the powers to remove knives before they are used.
"Our plan will deliver immediate protections, tougher penalties and faster justice to keep workers and shoppers safe.
"It's time for a fresh start with a Liberals and Nationals Government that takes retail crime seriously."
Shadow Minister for Police David Southwick said: "Every day, retail workers are being abused, threatened, or assaulted simply for doing their jobs.
"We will crack down on retail crime because we are tougher on crime and smarter on justice than Labor.
"We'll make bail laws stronger with Break bail, face jail because accountability matters.
"We'll introduce Jack's Law, giving police and PSOs the tools and technology they need to get knives off the streets before tragedy strikes.
"When crimes are committed, the sentences will be serious, and the consequences will be real. Justice will be clear and firm.
"We cannot arrest our way out of this problem so we will give young people pathways out of crime and provide programs that steer them toward education, work, and opportunity.
"Labor can't manage crime and you're paying the price."
