Victoria’s crime debate has moved sharply into focus, with the Government and Opposition outlining contrasting plans on how to tackle rising violence, retail theft and the worrying presence of machetes in some shopping centres. Both sides frame their proposals as a response to community unease and a need for a more visible police presence, yet their paths diverge on how best to deploy Protective Services Officers and what powers they should hold.
The Government has thrown its full support behind Chief Commissioner Mike Bush’s request for more powers, resources and a shift in how Victoria Police operates. The next phase of his overhaul includes moving PSOs away from static posts and towards a model built on data, patrol routes and flexibility. Ministers say the current system, designed more than a decade ago, no longer reflects where crime occurs or when people feel vulnerable.
The change hinges on the active PSOs program. Rather than waiting at a platform until 6pm, officers will patrol at earlier times of the day, travel on trains and focus on bus interchanges and shopping areas. The Government says this approach reflects crime data showing incidents peak during morning and afternoon periods, especially around 3pm. It points out that the majority of stations record minimal activity, while a smaller number face higher risks yet have only two PSOs, sometimes for hours when crime is lowest.
The Government will also place PSOs and police inside major shopping centres over summer as part of a new 90 day operation. The crackdown will concentrate on four centres selected through intelligence and is expected to provide lessons for a potential future model. Authorities argue the community has been rattled by knife incidents and that families expect a stronger uniform presence in the places where they shop.
To further boost frontline capacity, up to 200 police reservists will be recruited to fill desk roles. The Government says this will free hundreds of officers to work in public-facing duties, helping Victoria Police expand its patrol footprint. A further investment will provide 842 new hand-held metal detectors to support searches for knives and machetes, which police can already search for without a warrant.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said the Government is backing the next phase of the Chief Commissioner’s overhaul. “We’re backing the second phase of the Chief Commissioner’s overhaul of Victoria Police, with new powers and resources to get reservists behind the desk, expand the visible policing out in the community, and search for machetes without a warrant,” he said. He added that PSOs need to be freed from older policies. “PSOs are a crime-reduction tool, but right now they’re hamstrung by the past and glued to their seat, even if crime is occurring down the street. As a result, police can’t properly respond to changes in criminal activity.”
He said the public should expect to see PSOs in more places and across more of the day. “We need to put more local police where the problems are. Now, they won’t just be on platforms. They’ll also be riding the trains and patrolling interchanges, and shopping areas – protecting people from morning to night.”
The Opposition’s plan takes a different route and centres on what it describes as a tougher approach to retail crime. It proposes PSO strike teams to patrol high risk shopping centres and precincts, backed by what it calls Jack’s Law, granting 200 additional PSOs the authority and tools to remove knives before harm occurs. Unlike the Government, the Opposition insists that its plan “won’t see a single PSO removed from our public transport system.”
Its release highlights Crime Statistics Agency figures showing 99,114 offences in retail settings in the year to June, a rise of 20 per cent. Retail thefts increased 26 per cent and assaults 21 per cent. The Opposition blames what it describes as Labor’s soft approach and points to several machete incidents at centres in Broadmeadows, Caroline Springs, Northland, Watergardens and Woodgrove.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said Victoria needed a “fresh start.” “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,” he said. He argued the plan would bring immediate action. “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.”
He said the Liberal and Nationals approach would tighten penalties and improve safety. “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 Police Minister David Southwick said retail staff faced worsening abuse and threats. “Every day, retail workers are being abused, threatened, or assaulted simply for doing their jobs,” he said. He argued a combination of stronger bail laws, better tools for police and programs for young people would be needed. “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.”
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