Train station targeted by police

VICTORIA Police officers were handed temporary powers to search people without warrants in the vicinity of Frankston Railway Station last week.

The area bounded by Nepean Highway to the west, Playne Street to the south, and Fletcher Road to the east and north was targeted by police during “Operation Shadower” last Thursday, 11 July, between 1pm and 11pm. During that time, police in the area had the power to search people, vehicles, and bags for weapons without a warrant. The published order read that police can detain people “for so long as is reasonably necessary to conduct a search”, and can direct them to leave the area if they are wearing face coverings or “if the police officer reasonably believes the person intends to engage in conduct that would constitute an affray”.

The temporary police powers were outlined in a state government gazette published on 8 July, three days before they were put into action. It stated that the declaration was made by the “Assistant Commissioner, Transit and Public Safety Command, acting as a delegate of the Chief Commissioner of Police” under section 10D(1) of the Control of Weapons Act 1990 (Vic).

In addition to the 11 July operation, Victoria Police says it also conducted “Operation Pentagon” at the train station from 2pm each day between 9 July and 11 July. During those times it dedicated extra officers and resources to policing the station. Six arrests were made across the two operations and three weapons were seized.

Victoria Police transit safety division acting inspector Chris Reed said the operations would continue in the future.
“This highly visible presence was about boosting safety in and around Frankston Railway Station,” Reed said. “The operations were both focused on targeting crime – including detecting and deterring weapons to ensure safety. “In an ideal world, we would never have to run these operations, but the reality is a small number of people do choose to carry weapons – we simply won’t tolerate weapons on the streets. Our top priority is keeping the community safe so we will continue to run these targeted operations to detect and deter offending.”

Arrests included a 49-year-old man from Frankston for an outstanding whereabouts and contravening an intervention order, a 49-year-old woman from Reservoir for possessing a small quantity of cannabis and an outstanding bench warrant, a 26-year-old man from Frankston for possessing a drug of dependence and assault, a 23-year-old man from Frankston for 10 outstanding warrants, possessing cannabis, failing to answer bail, and possessing edged weapons in his backpack, and a 52-year-old man from Mount Eliza for possessing a drug of dependence.

First published in the Frankston Times – 16 July 2024