The new Victorian Premier Ben Carroll is ramping up the state’s retail crime crackdown strategy called Operation Pulse, which appears to be helping drive down escalating theft and violence across the state.
As part of the ramp-up, the state government will recruit an additional 150 more Protective Services Officers. That brings the total number of new PSOs funded by Labor in the last year to 200.
The officers are set to patrol high-traffic places such as local shopping strips and shopping centres to stamp out crime and anti-social behaviour, with the rollout expanding to more places. Operation Pulse has also been extended to the end of 2027.
Australian Retail Council (ARC) CEO Chris Rodwell said the Victorian Premier’s continued focus on retail crime since taking office was welcome, while calling for a permanent statewide response to the crisis.
“More PSOs in shopping precincts and the extension of Operation Pulse are practical and sensible steps that will help protect retail workers and customers,” he said.
In the year to March 2026, Victoria recorded 4,823 assault and related offences at retail locations, while stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour in stores and shopping centres increased by 10.1 per cent.
Auror data shows there are around 100 violent retail crime events in Victoria every day – more than a third of the national total.
Since Operation Pulse was launched in December last year, more than 1,700 people have been arrested, and more than 3,500 charges have been laid.
Rodwell said Operation Pulse has proven effective where it operates – tending to cover CBD and surrounding metropolitan areas – however, he added that Victoria’s retail crime crisis is statewide and requires a permanent statewide response.
Operation Pulse is currently deployed across nine major shopping centre and retail locations: Pacific Werribee, Bayside Frankston, Highpoint, Westfield Fountain Gate, Northland, Watergardens, Westfield Southland, Eastland, and key retail locations in the Geelong CBD including Westfield Geelong and Market Square.
“It’s clear Victoria Police need more resources,” Rodwell said. “We have consistently called for a statewide and permanent retail crime taskforce, like those established in South Australia and New South Wales, bringing together specialist police, intelligence and retailers to target the repeat offenders responsible for so much serious offending.”
The Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) also welcomed the ramp-up, with the CEO Angus Nardi saying that he and the Council’s members have been huge reductions in violent incidents and anti-social behaviour.
"The feedback we have received from retailers, centre management teams and the broader community on Operation Pulse has been overwhelmingly positive, including that 84 per cent of customers feel safer while shopping,” Nardi said.
“Operation Pulse is a clear example of what can be achieved through strong industry and Government partnerships.”