Public notice: Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix

A Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner has declared the following location as a Designated Place pursuant to Section 3A of the Victoria Police Act 2013 for a period of 12 months or less.

This declaration is necessary to ensure community safety and public reassurance by deploying Victoria Police protective services officers (PSOs) to the declared Designated Place.

Boundary of the declared Designated Place

Area surrounding the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix (Excluding the "event grounds" whereby the public who has paid for admission are allowed to enter including areas relating to the race itself whereby the public does not have access).

Excluding the "event grounds", the area to be designated is bordered by:

• Flinders Street between St Kilda Road and Spencer Street, Melbourne
• Spencer Street along Clarendon Street to City Road, Southbank.
• City Road, Southbank, to Cecil Street, Southbank.
• Cecil Street to Albert Road, Albert Park.
• Albert Road along Kerferd Road to Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park.
• From Beaconsfield Parade along Jacka Boulevard along Marine Parade to Blessington Street, Elwood.
• From Blessington Street to Barkly Street, Elwood.
• From Barkly Street to St Kilda Road, St Kilda.
• From St Kilda Road to Flinders Street, Melbourne.
• The boundary that runs along Beaconsfield Parade, Jacka Boulevard and Marine Parade is adjacent to Port Phillip Bay.

The designated area is to extend to the water line of the bay and is to include the beaches and public places from the carriageway to the waterline.

The below map illustrates the geographical boundaries of the declared Designated Place where PSOs can be deployed to.

The PSOs who will be deployed to the declared Designated Place will be exercising their normal legislative powers whilst deployed to the declared Designated Place.

Victoria Police powers in designated areas

Police officers and protective service officers (PSOs) are empowered to search a person and anything in the possession or control of the person, or a vehicle, for weapons under the Act. You, your vehicle or things in your possession are in a public place within a designated area.

A police officer or PSO intends to conduct a limited search of you or your vehicle/things:

• You are requested to co-operate with that search.
• You may be requested to remove items of outer clothing such as headwear, scarves, jackets, etc.
• You may be searched using an electronic wand.
• You may be requested to remove items from any bags or pockets.
• You may be given a “pat down” search.

A police officer may also exercise their power under the Act to direct you to leave the designated area if you refuse to remove a face covering.

A police officer may direct you to leave the designated area if they reasonably believe that you intend to engage in conduct that would constitute an affray or violent disorder under s.195H and s.195I of the Crimes Act 1958 respectively.

It is an offence under the Act to obstruct or hinder a police officer or PSO in the exercise of a power to stop and search a person or vehicle or to fail to comply with a direction to leave the designated area.