Gerald Lynch
After an overwhelming success in July with 30 arrests, Operation Cavalcade will recommence in Melton to ensure community safety during the school holiday period.
It will include a bolstered police presence at busy community locations in the Melton and Brimbank areas.
A range of specialist police from the Public Order Response Team and Transit Safety Division will take part in the operation.
Police will prioritise patrols of shopping centres like Woodgrove as well as parks and other shopping strips.
Another focus will be train stations, with Transit police and Protective Services Officers conducting highly visible patrols of Sunshine, Melton and St Albans railway stations.
The roads will also see a strong police presence, with Brimbank and Melton Highway Patrol out in force to deter and detect speed, distraction and impairment.
The local Crime Reduction Team will have known youth gang members closely in their sights throughout the school holidays.
These interactions will include bail compliance checks, referrals to support services and diversion programs, patrols of locations where the person frequents and has offended previously, conducting Firearm Prohibition Order Checks, and extending necessary support and referrals to the young person’s family.
The local proactive policing unit and detectives from Melton crime investigation units will also provide resources to the operation.
Brimbank and Melton tasking and coordination Acting Inspector Nick Di-Mieri said the school holidays is one of the most important times for police to heighten security and awareness.
“With students soon putting down their pens, there is no better time for us to increase our presence around busy community locations,” he said.
“Our priority will be ensuring everyone can enjoy the school holidays safely.
“The community can expect to see both local and specialist police in and around shopping centres, transport hubs and on the roads.
“Anyone thinking of causing trouble can expect to see a strong police presence waiting for them.”
Operation Cavalcade began on Monday, September 16, and will finish on Saturday, October 12.
