Victoria Police conducted an OMNI Operation in Corio Village on Tuesday September 19, with a strong focus on targeting those carrying prohibited weapons.
Local police were supported by officers from the Public Order Response Team, Mounted Branch and Highway Patrol.
Over the course of the operation, police spoke to more than 120 people and conducted 50 weapons searches.
Police arrested a 29-year-old Bell Park man for possession of a drug of dependence. He was charged on summons and will appear at Geelong Magistrates Court at a later date.
Police seized two small knives and issued two penalty notices ($1000 fine) for possessing a controlled weapon in a public place without lawful excuse.
Three penalty notices for traffic offences were also issued and one vehicle was impounded.
“While knife crime is most often between parties who know one another, each life lost to senseless violence is one too many,” Senior Sergeant Dave Reynolds said.
“Police will continue to target the carriage and use of knives and weapons, and this week’s operation in Corio enabled police to detect two weapons, deter violence and keep the community safe.
“In an ideal world, we would never have to run operations such as these, however we make absolutely no apologies for targeting those carrying weapons and looking for trouble.” Omni operations are regularly run across different areas of Victoria to detect weapons, protect community safety, gather intelligence, and deter anyone who may think that carrying a weapon in the community is acceptable.
Under the Control of Weapons Act 1990, Victoria Police is able to declare an area a designated area for weapon searches.
