Victoria Police is on track to remove a record number of illegal blades, machetes, and zombie knives from the community this year, with an average of 44 taken off the streets every day.
As of this week, police have seized 6,876 edged weapons in 2025, with around three quarters of these knives seized from metropolitan Melbourne.
This is on pace to surpass last year's record when Victoria Police seized 14,805 edged weapons - an average of 40 per day.
Victoria Police has been steadily finding and destroying more knives each year, with a 31% increase since 2015.
Recent incidents, including the Northland youth gang fight and a mass stabbing in Bairnsdale, have understandably heightened community concern around the prevalence of knives in the community.
While people carrying knives in public spaces such as shopping centres is not common, these incidents are highly concerning and reiterate why Victoria Police regularly runs designated weapons search operations at busy community locations to deter people from carrying knives.
Victoria Police conducts a number of these operations each month, with 11 OMNI Operations already held this year at locations including public transport hubs and shopping centres. 59 edged weapons have been seized as a result.
While this is only a very small percentage of the almost 6,900 edged weapons seized this year, these operations remain integral to both preventing people carrying knives and ensuring the community feels safe.
Police are also relentlessly targeting those who are most likely to carry weapons in public, including known youth gang members.
As part of Operation Alliance, police officers conduct regular bail compliance checks, search warrants, vehicle intercepts, and patrols where these gangs hang out.
Quotes attributable to Forest Hill Superintendent Matt Baynes
"While recent changes to machete laws will help choke the supply and double the penalties for possessing these weapons, the community should be assured police continue to relentlessly remove knives from the hands of criminals.
"Officers across the state are seizing knives at record pace, with 44 taken off the streets every day this year.
"In recent weeks, we have seen a number of public attacks involving edged weapons, with police quickly identifying and arresting those involved."
