Victoria Police and PSOs to patrol shopping centres until year-end

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan MP has extended Operation Pulse until the end of this year, continuing targeted Victoria Police patrols at shopping centres across the state.

Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) welcomed the decision. CEO Angus Nardi said the year-end extension “sends a clear message on community safety.”

“The community is at the heart of our shopping centres,” he said. “The extension of Operation Pulse is a welcome measure to help ensure community safety. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Victorian Government and Victoria Police.”

Operation Pulse deploys Victoria Police officers and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) at shopping centres to prevent and respond to crime and support public safety. Eight centres are participating in the program, with an average daily visitation of about 300,000 people. Some locations record more than 100,000 visitors a day during peak trading periods such as Boxing Day.

Nardi said Operation Pulse represents a partnership between the shopping centre industry, Victoria Police and the Victorian Government. He also acknowledged the involvement of Premier Jacinta Allan, Police Minister Anthony Carbines and Chief Commissioner of Police Mike Bush in the program.

Data from participating centres indicate that retail theft has declined by 73 per cent and incidents involving aggression or violence by 50 per cent, according to Nardi. Survey results show 84 per cent of customers at one centre said the presence of Victoria Police made them feel safer, while 94 per cent of retailers supported extending the program.

SCCA said it will continue to work with Victoria Police through regular meetings and a data-led approach, including analysis of safety and security incidents and surveys of customers, retail tenants and centre management teams.

Feedback from community members noted that officers were approachable. Centre management teams have also reported early interventions, including identifying suspicious behaviour, de-escalating incidents and intercepting offenders.

Nardi said the sector supports a visible, well-resourced police presence and thanked Victoria Police for its work in maintaining safety and upholding the law and order. “We thank Victoria Police for the incredibly important and challenging work that they do in keeping the community safe and helping to protect law and order,” he said.