By Mikayla van Loon
Victoria Police were seen in large numbers at Mooroolbark train station during the week carrying out a search operation of disembarking passengers.
Members from the Transit Safety Division and Eastern Region conducted the search under Operation OMNI, which gives police additional powers to detect weapon offences in a designated search zone.
“It’s our role to keep the community safe and we won’t tolerate weapons on the street,” Transit Safety Division Inspector Glen Finlay said.
“We will continue to have a highly-visible presence and patrol community locations including train stations across the network to prevent crime and identify and arrest offenders.”
222 people were searched as part of the operation, with four people arrested for various offences.
These included two people for the possession of dependent drugs, a person who was wanted in relation to a criminal damage incident and another who was wanted on an outstanding warrant.
All were released either pending summons or on bail to appear at the magistrate’s court at a later date.
Two more people were issued infringement notices for carrying a controlled weapon and dangerous article.
The operation, which has been conducted at various other train stations across Melbourne, including Croydon, Dandenong, Melton and Deer Park, aims to enhance community safety, gather intelligence and deter anyone from carrying a weapon on public transport.
Yarra Ranges Eyewatch posted the details of the operation on social media and while most responses were positive in thanking the police for keeping people safe, some were worried this was happening so close to home but others weren’t surprised at all.
“To think that kind of thing is happening so close to where you live is quite terrifying,” one person commented.
Another person commented how her daughter had witnessed a police officer being harassed by one of the people being searched, something that was rather terrifying for the school aged girl who had been catching the train home.
The Chief Commissioner has the power to declare a designated search zone under section 10D of the Control of Weapons Act.
