Police officers and Protective Service Officers (PSOs) will have the power to stop and search people in areas in and around the CBD from 30 November 2025 to 29 May 2026, with an aim to get a grip on knife-crimes in Victoria.
The move has raised concerns among people who carry a dagger for religious reasons, including those from the Sikh faith.
Although there is a legal provision to exempt 'kirpan' (religious dagger worn by Sikhs), a section of people from the Sikh community have in the past been asked to remove their religious dagger while entering premises or venturing in public.
The Kirpan is one of the five articles of faith worn by Sikhs.
Police and protective service officers can search people without a warrant within the Melbourne CBD, Docklands, Southbank, the sporting precinct, and parts of South Melbourne Credit: Victoria Police
"We receive at least two calls in a month on our helpline from Amritdhari (baptised) Sikhs who have had an unfortunate encounter due to their Kirpan," said Harkirat Singh, member of Victoria Gurudwara Council.
Singh, too, was subjected to a similar treatment.
"I was at a multicultural event. I was wearing Kirpan. Someone saw it and called the cops. I was asked to step down," he said.
"Even though Kirpan is exempted and we are legally allowed to wear it, the officer on duty was not aware of it and I had to show him an exemption card before being allowed to continue with my daily duties," he added.
Under 'Control of Weapons Act 1990' Kirpan is exempted.
Recently, at a concert held by Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh, Sikhs were not allowed to carry kirpans inside the premises.
The community is calling for awareness campaigns about kirpans.
The Victoria Police, in its official statement, has mentioned the move as a step to make the city safer for all during the holiday season.
'Certain communities are disproportionately subject to stop-and-search'
Data obtained by the Racial Profiling Data Monitoring Project (RPDMP) through Freedom of Information requests shows that certain communities are disproportionately subject to stop-and-search measures by police.
Data reveals that Aboriginal people were 15 times more likely to be stopped and searched by police officers, while people perceived to be African were about nine times more likely.
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