Police officers conducted planned weapons searches in the South East of Melbourne as part of Operation Omni in the past few days.
From Thursday 20 January to Saturday 22 January, police in Cardinia, Casey, and Greater Dandenong undertook a high visibility operation in the Pakenham CBD, Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, the Dandenong CBD and the surrounding transport hubs.
The proactive police initiative aimed to detect weapons offences, enhance community safety, gather intelligence and deter anyone who may think that carrying a weapon in the community is acceptable.
Victoria Police declared the area a designated area for weapons searches, under the Control of Weapons Act 1990.
Police checked 160 people and 20 vehicles over a three day period, with 16 people people arrested and charged for firearm possession, assault, theft, drug and other weapon-related offences during Operation Omni in early January 2021 in the same area as 2022’s campaign.
