Victoria Police conducted a series of operations across Melbourne's CBD and Carlton this weekend, with a strong focus on targeting those carrying weapons.
A bolstered police presence performed roving patrols of the CBD and Carlton over the duration of the weekend, while a series of planned weapon searches were conducted throughout Saturday evening and Sunday morning as part of Operation Omni.
Police from the Melbourne Embona Taskforce were supported by officers from the VIPER Taskforce and Transit during Operation Omni.
Over the course of Operation Omni, police:
• Arrested nine people for offences including armed robbery, weapons offences, and drug related offending.
• Seized 10 weapons including three dagger swords, two machetes, one axe, two box cutters and two switchblade folding knives.
• Searched 647 people.
• Intercepted 12 vehicles.
Among those arrested were:
• Seven males allegedly connected to a series of three armed robberies that occurred across Southgate Avenue, Southbank, Little Bourke Street, Elizabeth Street and Little Collins Street, Melbourne on Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. The group of offenders were allegedly armed with edged and controlled weapons, stealing mobile phones and personal cards from their victims. One victim sustained minor injuries. Police located the alleged offenders at about 1.30am attempting to leave the city at Flinders Street Railway Station. All outstanding property was recovered and returned to the victims, with edged weapons also seized. Those arrested were predominantly aged between 15 and 17, with an 18-year-old from Deer Park also arrested. All individuals arrested have been released on intent to summons, while the investigation remains ongoing.
• Police intercepted a 1999 Hyundai Excel on Gratton Street, Carlton on Saturday evening. The vehicle, driven by a 33-year-old man, was searched and police located a small quantity of cannabis, an axe, a machete and two box cutters. The man was arrested and charged with possession of controlled and prohibited weapons, possession of cannabis and an outstanding warrant. He was bailed to appear before the Sunshine Magistrates Court on 22 November 2022.
• Police searched a 21-year-old man at Southern Cross Railway Station on Saturday evening, uncovering a small quantity of cannabis, unlawful possession of prescription drugs of dependence and a switchblade folding knife. He was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis and prescription drugs of dependence and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court at Melbourne on Sunday 13 November 2022.
• Police searched a 22-year-old man on Collins Street on Saturday evening, uncovering a flick knife. He was issued a PIN infringement notice for possession of a controlled weapon without a lawful excuse.
The weekend's operation follows a fatal stabbing that occurred on Bourke Street in the early hours of Sunday 30 October. Two men have already been charged with murder in relation to this incident, while a third man has been charged with affray.
Another two men were stabbed in another incident on King Street on the same evening.
Operation Omni's are regularly run across different areas of Victoria to detect weapons, protect community safety, gather intelligence, and deter anyone who may think that carrying a weapon in the community is acceptable.
Under the Control of Weapons Act 1990, Victoria Police is able to declare an area a designated area for weapon searches.
These operations are intelligence led and centre around locations where previous incidents may have occurred, such as licensed premises, transport hubs and shopping centres.
Quotes attributed to Acting Superintendent Troy Papworth - Melbourne and Yarra
"In an ideal world, we would never have to run operations such as these, however we make absolutely no apologies for targeting those carrying weapons and looking for trouble.
"While the level of violence involving edged weapons in the CBD has remained steady over the previous year and is most often between parties who know one another, each life lost to senseless violence is one too many.
"While taking weapons off Victorian streets is the prerogative of operations such as these, the intelligence gained is equally invaluable.
"Knowing where these people socialise, who they associate with, and where they are most likely to offend, gives us the best chance of preventing serious crimes from occurring.
"Operations such as these complement the work being done by detectives across the state every day managing high risk persons of interests, such as bail compliance checks, patrols of high-risk community locations, and the execution of search warrants."
Joel Dwyer
