Declaration of Designated Area under section 10D of the Control of Weapons Act
The Assistant Commissioner, Transit Public Safety Command, acting as a delegate of the Chief Commissioner of Police, has declared under section 10D(1)(a) of the Control of Weapons Act 1990 (Act), the following location as a designated area.
The declared designated area will be in effect from 9am on Saturday 7 March 2026 to 11pm Saturday 7 March 2026 inclusive.
Boundary of the Designated Area
The area that is declared to be a designated area is all public places within Flinders Street Railway Station and Federation Square, being the area bordered by (and inclusive of):
- east from the junction of Flinders Walk and the Elizabeth Street pedestrian underpass of Flinders Street Railway Station to the South East corner of Federation Square
- north to the intersection of Russel Street Extension and Flinders Street
- west to the intersection of Flinders Street and the Elizabeth Street pedestrian underpass of Flinders Street Railway Station
- south to the intersection of Flinders Walk and the Elizabeth Street pedestrian underpass of Flinders Street Railway Station.
Victoria Police powers in designated areas
Police officers and protective services officers (PSOs) are empowered to stop and search a person and anything in the possession or control of the person, or a vehicle, for weapons under the Act. This may include:
- a search via electronic device
- a search of the contents of pockets/bags
- an outer search, or
- a strip search.
Police officers and PSOs are able to seize any item reasonably suspected of being a weapon. Police officers may also require a person who is subject to a strip search to disclose their identity.
A police officer may also exercise their power under the Act to direct a person to leave the designated area if they refuse to remove a face covering and the police officer reasonably believes they are wearing the face covering primarily to conceal their identity or protect themselves from crowd control substances.
A police officer may direct a person to leave the designated area if they reasonably believe that the person intends 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 without a reasonable excuse.
Public notices
Past and upcoming Victoria Police declarations under the various statutes, and the relevant dates and locations.
Updated