Ash Bolt
A police operation targeting compliance with firearm prohibition orders (FPO) across the region saw 20 properties searched and no firearms found.
The two-day operation on last month involved a large cohort of detectives across the region checking on known offenders to ensure they were complying with their FPOs.
Police also searched 22 properties across Corio, Lovely Banks, Norlane, Lara, Whittington, Grovedale, Moolap, Newcomb, Clifton Springs, Colac, Leopold, Armstrong Creek, Thomson and Bell Park and located no firearms.
Police served new FPOs to three people including a 29-year-old Corio man with a significant history of violent offending, a 46-year-old Lara man with a significant history of family violence and firearms offences, and a 29-year-old Clifton Springs man with a significant history of drug, dishonesty, and firearms and weapons offences.
Officers searched all three properties and seized a large amount of ammunition from a property in Lara.
No one was charged in relation to the ammunition.
While no firearms were found, police did seize a small amount of methylamphetamine while searching a property in Newcomb.
A 30-year-old woman was charged with possess drug of dependence and bailed to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court in March.
Police also arrested a 29-year-old woman who was present at a property in Norlane in relation to an attempted burglary at Hamlyn Heights and a shop theft in Geelong earlier this year.
She was bailed to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court in February.
Firearm prohibition orders give police specific powers to proactively disrupt and prevent firearm-related crime in Victoria.
Once issued, an FPO remains in effect for 10 years for adults and five years for children, and bans the individual from possessing or using any firearm or related item such as ammunition.
They are also unable to enter a range of premises including firearms dealers, shooting ranges or firearms clubs.
“FPOs are issued to those people in our community who we know have a significant history of serious violent crime or who are linked to serious and organised crime groups,” Detective Acting Sergeant Wayde Pascoe said.
“The fact that no firearms were seized during this operation is testament to the management of those who are subject to an FPO and the disruption tactics police have used to put them on notice.
“This large-scale operation involving a multitude of police resources will no doubt have a significant impact on driving down gun violence in our region, keeping the community safe.
“We make absolutely no apologies for turning up unannounced on the doorsteps of those people subject to an FPO, to make sure they are not harbouring illicit firearms.”
