Public notices

Find the latest public notices for Victoria Police, including Designated Places and Designated Areas.

Safe spaces in our community

Victoria Police uses a range of police powers, including special police powers in certain places and areas in our community to keep people safe.

These powers apply in Designated Places and Designated Areas and allow police and PSOs to:

prevent crime
reduce harm, and
protect public spaces like train stations, nightlife spots, and busy transport hubs.

Understanding situation and location-based police powers

Explore the following information to understand our powers, where they can be used, and how they work:

Under the Control of Weapons Act 1990, Victoria Police can declare certain areas as Designated Areas for the purpose of weapons searches.
Designated areas are usually high-risk locations, like entertainment districts, transport hubs, shopping centres, or high alcohol incident areas.
Within a Designated Area, police officers and PSOs can search:
- person
- items in that person's possession or control
- vehicles.
Victoria Police commonly describes the exercise of powers in a Designated Area as an 'OMNI operation'.
Under the Victoria Police Act 2013 (the Act), the Chief Commissioner, a Deputy or Assistant Commissioner can declare a Designated Place.
A Designated Place declaration gives protective services officers (PSOs) the authority to use their powers in additional specific locations.
Examples of Designated Places include:
- train stations and nearby areas, such as car parks
- roads or thoroughfares that provide access to train stations
- bus and taxi areas located near train stations
- any site temporarily declared under Section 3A of the Act, such as a shopping centre
- any site permanently declared under the Regulations of the Act, such as a shopping centre or precinct.

Current public notices

Notices about new Designated Areas (Control of Weapons Act / OMNI operation) and Designated Places (Victoria Police Act / PSO locations) across Victoria.

Designated Areas (Control of Weapons Act / OMNI operation)

There are no current Designated Areas in Victoria.

Designated Places (Victoria Police Act 2013 / PSO locations)

View current public notices for Designated Places in Victoria:

Designated Places in Victoria - 23 October 2026

Previous public notices

Find information about past Victoria Police notices.

News

Updated 26 October 2026

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