In short:
Police apprehended 18 people during an anti-weapon operation at Pacific Werribee on 3 July. The blitz involved 50 officers, 450 searches, and a teen found with a knife hidden in his shoe.
450 people searched in eight hours
Eighteen individuals were apprehended on July 3 during an operation focused on curbing weapon-related offenses and anti-social behavior at Hoppers Crossing. The operation, known as Omni, grants additional authority to law enforcement to detect weapon offenses within a specific search area, as per the Control of Weapons Act.
About 50 personnel, including members from the transit division, public order response team, and local area, were deployed to the Pacific Werribee Shopping Centre and bus hub area. The aim was to deter criminal activities and enhance safety. During the operation, which lasted eight hours, approximately 450 individuals were searched.
A 17-year-old boy was found in possession of a fold-out knife concealed in his shoe during a search. He was penalized for possessing a controlled weapon. Seventeen more individuals were apprehended during the operation. More than 50 transport offenses were also detected.
Future operations are planned in the coming months, with a focus on shopping centers and public transport hubs in the western suburbs.
Acting Senior Sergeant Lauren Williams stated that the operation served as a potent deterrent to those carrying weapons. She said, “We hope it served as a reminder to those who carry knives that we are out at all hours detecting weapons, and we will have zero hesitation in seizing yours. There is never any excuse to carry an illegal weapon in our community so we will continue to run targeted operations across Melbourne to ensure our message remains loud and clear.”
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