Knives seized as police’s warrant-less search for weapons begins

A MAJOR police operation is running in central Geelong targeting illegal weapons.

The operation netted instant results last night with three knives confiscated.

Operation Corrida — Spanish for bullfight — saw an area bounded by Eastern Beach Rd, Bellerine St, Ryrie St and Gheringhap St declared as a designated area until Friday, September 27.

Over the next fortnight during certain prescribed hours, police are authorised to exercise searches without warrants for weapons.

This includes any person, anything in the possession or control of that person, any motorist, or anything in a vehicle.

Uniform and plain clothes police were targeting passengers at the Moorabool St bus stop including scanning them for weapons with a hand-held metal detector.

Two members of the mounted branch were also on hand to lend their support to the police operation.

Sergeant Steve Bull from Geelong Police said the operation was netting instant results.

“We’re targeting people possessing weapons within the Geelong CBD,” he said.

“Each of the crews has a metal detector, so anyone in this area, we’ve got the power over the next week to stop and search them.

“We’ve got a couple with weapons so far and a couple of others for other offences that they were wanted for separate to this operation.”

Under the designated area powers, police are authorised to detain a person or vehicle for so long as is reasonably necessary to conduct a search.

Police are able to seize and detain any item they suspect is a weapon and request people subject to a search to disclose their identity.