An OMNI Operation run by Victoria Police in Cranbourne has netted multiple weapons in the space of just a few hours.
OMNI Operations give police additional powers to detect weapon offences within a designated search area, enhancing public safety, eliminating anti-social behaviour and reducing crime in the process.
Over the course of the operation on Thursday 17 June, police checked more than 30 people and arrested 12 for weapon and drug-related offences.
A total of six weapons were seized, five knives and one laser pointer, while a 27-year-old Cranbourne female, 38-year-old Cranbourne male, 49-year-old Cranbourne male and a 20-year-old Hampton Park male were arrested for drug possession.
In a statement, police said they “will simply not tolerate those who break the law or engage in anti-social, violent behaviour that puts the safety of others at risk.”
“We will continue to have a high visibility presence and patrol community locations such as shopping centres and train stations to prevent crime and identify and arrest offenders as quickly as possible,” the statement added.
Police in the Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong Police Service Areas regularly run a number of proactive operations, such as Operation OMNI and Operation Tidal, in an effort to deter and detect any offending in the community.
The powers for the Chief Commissioner to declare a planned search area are set out in s.10D of the Control of Weapons Act, however for operational reasons, Victoria Police does not always disclose the reasons for declaring a designated area.
