Victoria police revokes powers to allow warrantless pat-downs across inner Melbourne | Victorian politics
Victoria police have rescinded their declaration to declare the Melbourne CBD and surrounding area as a designated area four months ahead of schedule, meaning they will no longer be able to conduct warrantless searches from 11.59pm on Friday.
Police updated their website on Friday morning to confirm that the declaration, which was due to last until 11.59pm on Friday 29 May, will end at 11.59pm on 9 January 2026.
They did not provide a reason. But an emergency hearing on Invasion Day rally organizer Tarneen onus Browne and environmental activist Benny Zable’s objection to the declaration will begin Monday in federal court.
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Legal and human rights groups had criticized the six-month-old declaration which gives police and protective services officers (PSOs) powers to stop and search anyone without warrant or reasonable justification in the CBD, Docklands, Southbank and the sports and entertainment precinct and parts of East Melbourne and South Melbourne.
Searches may involve an electronic wand or hand search, and people may be asked to remove outer clothing, face coverings that may conceal the person’s identity, and empty bags or pockets. Vehicles can also be searched.
Under the law, it is an offense to “obstruct or impede” a police officer or PSO conducting a search. It is also an offense to fail to comply with police instructions to leave the designated area.
In November, Victoria police declared several locations in the city as “designated areas” until May 29, 2026. Designated areas are often declared to allow police to manage planned large protests or demonstrations.
At the time, Inner Melbourne Community Legal described the new six-month period as “far-reaching”. Nadia Morales, the law center’s executive director, said this is unprecedented in terms of its geographic scope and the time period in which it plans to file.
Guardian Australia previously said it would inform the state’s anti-corruption watchdog that Victoria police failed to comply with the law when they used sweeping powers to search people for weapons in 23 separate incidents dating back eight years.
The inappropriate searches were discovered during an internal audit carried out by police in all designated designated areas between March 2017 and March 2025.
A Victoria Police spokesman on Friday said a planned six-month weapons search in Melbourne’s CBD had come to an end.
“All searches and seizures carried out within the scope of the declaration between November 30, 2025 and January 9, 2026 remain valid,” the spokesman said.
The statement said Victoria Police is considering making a new declaration, the duration and size of which have not yet been determined.
“Victoria police continue to use weapons search warrants to keep the public safe, many of which have been carried out in just the last few weeks,” the spokesman said.
“We also maintain a highly visible police presence in Melbourne’s CBD through targeted and regular operations.”
