Central Footscray has been declared a ‘designated area’ from 2-10pm on Wednesday, giving Victoria Police additional powers to stop and search people for weapons.
The designated area is within the boundaries of Cowper Street, Bunbury Street and Hyde Street (North), Hopkins Street (West), Irving Street, Trungo Lane and Paisley Street (South), Napier Street (East) including all roadways and footpaths associated with the stated road and road related areas.
Maribyrnong Victorian Socialists councillor Jorge Jorquera issued a statement opposing the designation, stating it could lead to strip searches – a claim police have denied.
“During this time, police officers will have the power to stop, detain, search – including strip search – any person who they suspect to be carrying a weapon,” Cr Jorquera stated.
“Victorian Socialists oppose the presence of Victoria Police in Footscray on Wednesday.
“These stop and search operations are a draconian attack on our civil rights.
“Residents of the inner west have the right to go about their day without fear of being stopped and intimidated by the police.
“There is widespread evidence that stop and search powers contribute to racialised policing.
“”It is well-established that stop and search powers lead to the targeting and harassment of Indigenous and migrant communities, and particularly of young people.
“It is no surprise that diverse and working-class areas such as Footscray and Dandenong are the places subjected to these outrageous operations.”
Police have confirmed they will not strip search people and items such as metal detectors would be used as part of operation Omni .
Police are authorised to stop and search anyone for weapons in a public place in the designated area, anything in the possession or control of the person and any vehicle with a person in or on it.
They can detain a person or vehicle for so long as is “reasonably necessary” to conduct a search, seize and detain any item reasonably suspected of being a weapon and request a person who is the subject of a full search to disclose his or her identity.
“Operations such as these are absolutely imperative to overall community safety as they allow police to more easily detect those carrying weapons, eliminate antisocial behaviour, reduce crime and keep the entire community safe,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“Police will simply not tolerate those who break the law or engage in antisocial, 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.
“Criminal offending is not predicated by an individual’s gender, age or nationality, and ensuring the human rights of every community member are respected is always paramount as part of any policing response.”
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, Victoria Police does not always disclose the reasons for declaring a designated area for operational reasons.
