New data shows 84 per cent of customers at a Victorian shopping centre felt safer with police and PSOs on patrol.
It's part of a successful new solution in the fight against crime called Operation Pulse - which is being extended.
The operation is credited with a 73 per cent drop in retail theft stock loss and a 50 per cent drop in violent events.
Today, the Premier announced the Allan Labor Government is investing $6.5 million to extend the targeted Victoria Police operation until the end of the year.
Operation Pulse puts police and PSOs in shopping centres to keep families, workers and shoppers safe.
It stops violence, theft and anti‑social activity and protects the busy places where you shop, work and spend time.
Operation Pulse has delivered strong results since it began in December, patrolling Northland, Eastland, Highpoint, Fountain Gate, and more.
As part of the operation, Victoria Police have:
- made 452 arrests and laid 971 charges
- seized more than 100 weapons
- conducted 3,800 vehicle checks as part of highly visible patrols
According to the Shopping Centre Council of Australia, at one shopping centre:
- 84 per cent of customers said the program made them feel safer while shopping
- 94 per cent of retail tenants wanted the operation extended
- there was a 73 per cent reduction in stock loss (the value of stolen goods) in the month of January alone
- and a 50 per cent reduction in serious events (involving violence, aggression and weapons) in December
Under the extension, Operation Pulse will continue to operate without affecting existing staffing or deployments.
The Allan Labor Government has invested nearly $9 million into Operation Pulse.
We're delivering new solutions to keep the community safe.
Adult Time for Violent Crime is now in effect, and we have a Violence Reduction Unit to stop crime before it starts.
More than 18,000 knives and machetes were handed over during the amnesty and taken off the streets.
Victoria now has the most police officers in Australia, because Labor always invests in frontline public services.
Only Labor has new solutions to make life safer for families.
The Liberals have no solutions - just cuts.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"We have new solutions to keep you safe, with PSOs in shopping centres, violence reduction in our schools, and Adult Time in the law."
"We're putting police and PSOs where the problems are, protecting you where you shop, work and spend time."
As stated by Minister for Police Anthony Carbines
"Operation Pulse is delivering results - Victoria Police is stopping crime before it begins, responding quickly and removing dangerous weapons before they can be used."
