Victoria police revokes powers to allow warrantless pat-downs across inner Melbourne

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 1 min read 100% complete by Benita Kolovos and Adeshola OreJanuary 9, 2026 at 03:50 AM

Read Original Article

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Victoria Police have revoked the designated area declaration for Melbourne's CBD and surrounding areas, ending the policy that allowed warrantless pat-down searches. The revocation will take effect at 11:59 pm on January 9, 2026, more than four months ahead of the originally scheduled end date of May 29, 2026. The police updated their website on Friday to reflect this change. The declaration had granted police the power to conduct searches without a warrant within the designated zone. The reason for the early revocation was not stated in the provided text.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Australia 50% 9 January 2026 60% Melbourne CBD 70% Melbourne ×280% Victoria Police ×290%

Keywords

warrantless searches 90% police powers 80% melbourne cbd 70% designated area 70% victoria police 60% revoked declaration 60% pat-downs 50% civil liberties 40%