Concerns as police granted new weapon search powers in Melbourne CBD

From this Sunday November 30 until May 29 next year, police officers and PSOs patrolling Melbourne’s CBD and surrounding suburbs will be permitted to conduct pat-down searches and look through a person’s belongings, including cars, in search of weapons.

It is the longest period the special powers have been enabled, following recent changes to the Control of Weapons Act.

The designated area encompasses Melbourne’s CBD as well as parts of Docklands, South Melbourne, East Melbourne, Richmond and Carlton Gardens.

Designated search zones include roads, footpaths, railway stations, underpasses and other public transport hubs.

Victoria Police insisted the decision to impose a designated search area was evidence-based.

“To declare a designated area, there must be either an extensive history of weapon-related offending in the area, or police intelligence that indicates this measure will prevent likely offending,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

”Weapons search operations in the CBD earlier this year have led to the seizure of a significant number of edged weapons – preventing community harm.”

However, Liberty Victoria has slammed the operation as a “fundamental erosion of human rights” and called on chief commissioner Mike Bush to abandon the plans.

“The use of the ‘designated area’ powers will allow police to circumvent the usual legal safeguards against unwarranted police intrusion,” Liberty Victoria president Gemma Cafarella said.

“Normally, police require reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is carrying something illegal or prohibited before they can be searched.”

The civil liberties group pointed to data from the Racial Profiling Data Monitoring Project, which found police were far more likely to target Aboriginal and First Nations communities.

“We also know that the powers will disproportionately be used against First Nations people and other people of colour,” Cafarella said.

“We know there are real issues with racial profiling when it comes to searching people.”

Victoria Police said it has “zero tolerance” towards racial profiling.

“Our officers are well trained to police in response to a person’s behaviour, not their background,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“If you aren’t carrying a weapon, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

Members of the public who are searched may be asked to remove outer layers of clothing, including headwear, scarves, jackets or face coverings.

An electronic wand may be used during the search, police said.