In short:
Pacific Werribee is among nine major shopping centres receiving extra Victoria Police and PSO patrols during the winter school holidays as part of Operation Pulse. Police say the expanded operation aims to deter crime during the busy retail period, while the Coalition argues it highlights wider policing shortages.
Expanded Patrols at Key Shopping Centres
Shoppers at Pacific Werribee can expect to see an increased police presence over the winter school holidays as Victoria Police expands its high-visibility Operation Pulse patrols.
The shopping centre is one of nine major retail precincts across Melbourne and Geelong receiving additional police and Protective Services Officer (PSO) patrols during the two-week holiday period, with extra resources aimed at deterring crime during one of the busiest shopping times of the year.
Since December, police and PSOs have been patrolling four shopping centres each day on a rotating basis.
During the school holidays, that operation has been expanded so all nine centres, including Pacific Werribee, Highpoint, Watergardens and key Geelong retail locations, receive dedicated patrols.
Victoria Police says the additional shifts are voluntary and are being completed on top of existing frontline duties, meaning there is no reduction in regular policing or rail network patrols.
Since Operation Pulse began on 8 December, police have made 1,417 arrests, laid 2,909 charges, seized 224 weapons and conducted more than 20,500 vehicle checks. Shop theft offences account for almost half of all charges laid.
(Operation Pulse Superintendent Matt Baynes)
Surge in Arrests and Charges since Launch
Among recent arrests, police allege a woman stole a $600 handbag before returning days later and using it to conceal another $500 worth of clothing.
Officers also allegedly caught a teenager attempting to hide a stolen knife down his pants after taking it from a supermarket, while another operation resulted in the seizure of firearms, ammunition, knuckledusters, nunchucks and drugs following arrests at a shopping centre.
Operation Pulse Superintendent Matt Baynes said increasing patrols over the school holidays would help reassure shoppers and retailers.
“This is a peak time for our shopping centres, and it’s important that both retailers and shoppers feel safe.
“The presence of police and PSOs has undoubtedly prevented significant offending at shopping centres, so we are pleased to be able to bolster our resources over this busy period.
“With over 1,400 charges laid for shop thefts alone – this sends a very clear message that there is no place for stealing at our shopping centres.”
(Liberal candidate for Werribee Reece Clark)
Crime Crisis Back in Focus
The expanded operation has drawn scepticism from Liberal candidate for Werribee Reece Clark, who argued the increased police presence reflected broader challenges facing Victoria’s policing system.
“The stats haven’t changed, they have 1600 vacancies across Victoria Police across the entire state, they have closed 43 police stations. What it tells me is that crime has got so rampant that their whole process is failing.”
“This is an admission of failure and that is why they have had to put police at the Werribee Plaza which never needed them.”
The Coalition has promised to hire 3000 more police and strenghten bail laws if elected.
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