Public notice: Footscray Business District - Friday 19 June 2026

Declaration of Designated Area under section 10D of the Control of Weapons Act

The Assistant Commissioner, North-West Metro 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 below location as a designated area.

Designated Area

The area that is declared to be a designated area is all public places within the Footscray Business District inclusive of the associated public transport facilities and Footscray Railway Station being the area boarded by (and inclusive of):

• intersection of Hopkins Street and Moore Street, north to the intersection of Moore Street and Donald Street
• west and south to intersection of Donald Street and Barkly Street
• south from intersection of Barkly Street and French Street to intersection of French Street and Irving Street
• east to intersection of Irving Street and Nicholson Street
• south to intersection of Nicholson Street and Northern Footpath entrance to Railway Reserve
• south along footpath at Railway Reserve to intersection of McNab Avenue
• east along McNab Avenue, incorporating Footscray Railway Station and associated carparking areas to Hopkins Street
• west along Hopkins Street to intersection of Hopkins Street and Moore Street.

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:

• the person refuses 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, or
• the police officer reasonably believes that the person intends to engage in conduct that would constitute an affray or violent disorder under section 195H and section 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.