The Victorian Government is extending its shopping centre policing program, Operation Pulse, until the end of the year, after new figures showed a sharp drop in theft and violent crimes.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced $6.5 million in extra funding to keep police and Protective Services Officers (PSOs) patrolling major shopping centres including Northland, Eastland, Highpoint and Fountain Gate.

Since the operation began in December, data shows retail stock loss from theft has dropped by 73 per cent, while serious violent incidents are down by 50 per cent at participating centres.

Police have also made 452 arrests, laid 971 charges, seized more than 100 weapons and carried out around 3,800 vehicle checks.

Protecting businesses and shoppers

“We’re putting police and PSOs where the problems are, protecting you where you shop, work and spend time,” Allan said.

According to the government, 84 per cent of customers said they felt safer with police on patrol. Which suggests that, unsurprisingly, most shoppers prefer picking up a bargain over picking a fight.

“We have new solutions to keep you safe, with PSOs in shopping centres, violence reduction in our schools, and Adult Time in the law,” Allan said.

Retailers welcome the extension

The Australian Retail Council said the results show what can happen when police maintain a visible presence in high-risk retail areas.

ARC CEO Chris Rodwell said the drop in theft and violence was a strong sign the approach was working.

“Operation Pulse is proof that when police are properly resourced and highly visible in shopping centres, retail crime drops dramatically,” he said.

He added that the number of weapons seized highlighted the size of the issue facing retailers and frontline staff.

“The sheer volume of arrests, charges and weapons seized since December in just a handful of shopping centres also underscores the scale of the problem retailers and frontline workers are facing every day across Victoria.”

Calls for a permanent task force

While retailers have welcomed the extension, the ARC says more needs to be done to tackle retail crime across the state.

Rodwell is calling for a permanent, state-wide retail crime task force with dedicated resources and intelligence sharing to target repeat offenders.

“Retail crime is a state-wide problem in Victoria,” he said.

“The scale and persistence of offending — the worst in the country — demands a permanent, state-wide retail crime taskforce with dedicated resources.”

The council is also pushing for Workplace Protection Orders to better protect retail staff dealing with aggressive or repeat offenders.

Operation Pulse places Victoria Police officers and PSOs directly into busy shopping centres, with patrols aimed at preventing theft, violence and anti-social behaviour. The hope is that more uniform presence in stores will mean fewer sticky fingers and less violence towards retailers.

The government says the extended operation will continue without affecting existing police deployments elsewhere.

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