Victoria Police will bolster patrols at several metropolitan shopping centres as part of Operation Pulse, which commences today for 90 days.
Based on intelligence, crime data and calls for assistance, police and PSO's will be deployed to busy Melbourne shopping centres ahead of the festive period.
From today, the operation will start at four shopping centres - Northland, Highpoint, Eastland and Fountain Gate - to ensure those working at and visiting the centres feel safe.
While Operation Pulse will start at these four centres, the operation may change at a moment's notice as it'll be guided by intelligence to ensure crime is prevented.
All shifts as part of Operation Pulse will be voluntary duties undertaken by police and PSOs on planned rest days, ensuring there is no flow on resourcing impact.
Retail theft, anti-social behaviour and weapons offences will be a focus of the operation.
Recent concerning incidents at shopping centres, such as high levels of retail theft and fights with weapons, reiterate why police and PSOs regularly carry out patrols and also run designated weapon search operations to deter anyone who may think that carrying a weapon in the community is acceptable.
Victoria Police has declared all four shopping centres designated areas for weapons searches for the entire 90-day operation, with the potential other centres will be declared if Operation Pulse moves elsewhere due to intelligence.
Police and PSOs conducting weapons searches will be equipped with wands as part of this to help remove more knives from the community.
These wands provide a non-invasive search option and are also a safer alternative for our members than performing a pat-down search on someone who may possibly by armed.
PSO's remain patrolling every metropolitan train line until the last train each night.
Northland, Highpoint, Eastland and Fountain Gate shopping centres have been declared designated areas from 1 December 2025 to 28 February 2026. Further information can be found at police.vic.gov.au/public-notices.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill, Regional Operations:
"Retailers and shoppers should feel safe however unfortunately, we know that has not always been the case this year.
"It's no secret that Victoria is confronting record levels of retail theft, while other problematic incidents include increased aggression towards retailers and public knife fights between feuding gangs.
"We are heading into peak time for our shopping centres, with school holidays and the festive period almost upon us.
"It's important that people feel comfortable shopping during this period and Victoria Police will be out in force across several of Melbourne's biggest shopping centres to ensure this is the case.
"As part of Operation Pulse, police and PSOs will be deployed to a range of shopping centres across the next 90 days.
"Their deployment will be agile and flexible, depending on the latest intelligence surrounding calls for assistance, crime rates and centre patronage.
"The operation will include overt patrols to prevent crime, engagement with retailers, and non-invasive wand or pat down searches to remove weapons from the wrong hands."
