FRANKSTON — A major police crackdown targeting knife crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour in Frankston has led to 21 arrests and multiple weapons seizures in just eight hours.
About 50 officers from Victoria Police’s Transit Division, Public Order Response Team, Mounted Branch and local Frankston police saturated the railway station and surrounding shopping precinct on Thursday. The operation aimed to deter crime and improve public safety, with police wand-searching around 370 people.
Two Frankston women, aged 35 and 26, were found carrying knives and issued penalty notices for possessing controlled weapons.
Among the 19 others arrested were:
- A 30-year-old Frankston woman wanted on a warrant, also charged with possessing GHB and an allegedly stolen credit card.
- A 26-year-old Frankston man wanted on a warrant and found carrying methylamphetamine.
- A 20-year-old Frankston woman accused of assaulting police.
- A 31-year-old Surrey Hills man allegedly caught stealing from a retail store.
Authorised officers also detected more than 17 transport offences during the blitz.
The high-visibility operation was conducted under “Omni” powers granted by Victoria’s Control of Weapons Act, allowing police to search people for weapons within a designated area. Similar operations are regularly run across the Mornington Peninsula and southeastern suburbs to deter knife crime and protect community safety.
Acting Senior Sergeant Jonathan Allie said police had a clear message.
“We hope Thursday’s operation served as a reminder to those who choose to carry knives that police are out at all hours detecting weapons, and we will have zero hesitation in seizing yours.”
Police say more proactive operations are planned at shopping centres and public transport hubs across Frankston and the wider southeast in the coming months
Well done! – far too late but effective!