A crackdown on drunkenness and violence will continue in Victoria with new laws brought in today, including extra powers for police to strip search people for weapons.
Police can also issue $234 on-the-spot fines for people who refuse to leave pubs and clubs when asked.
The new laws come after the nationally-coordinated Operation Unite police crackdown on alcohol-related violence across Australia and New Zealand last weekend.
Under the new search laws, police will be able to declare designated areas for searches if they have a history of violence involving weapons, or they believe such an incident is about to take place.
They will be able to stop and search a person without a warrant in the areas, such as train stations or city blocks.
The areas will be designated for a 12-hour period only and, by law, must be advertised in a government gazette and newspaper seven days in advance.
Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe hopes to have the first designated areas in place early in the new year.
He said the increased powers were important because there had been a significant rise in weapons crime in the past year.
"Victoria Police statistics from 2008-09 show that robberies involving knives increased by 9.4 per cent in the last year. This is simply unacceptable," Mr Walshe said.
The new powers have been opposed by some, including Liberty Victoria president Michael Pearce.
Opponents say they are an undemocratic, draconian intrusion on civil liberties and human rights, and will enable officers to strip-search children and the disabled.
Mr Walshe said any police action would be justified and appropriate.
"We are concerned with people's rights and respect them but at the end of the day we are also concerned with the community's rights to be safe in the city and elsewhere," he said.
Police will be able to impose fines for the new offence of disorderly conduct as well as drunk and disorderly and drunk.
The new laws include:
The power to direct people to move on from a certain area where it is feared there will be a breach of the peace;
A new offence of disorderly conduct;
On-the-spot penalties;
Random search powers for weapons.
The "No Excuses" campaign launched last week aims to tackle drunken violence in the city before the busy Christmas/new year period.
Another scheme includes reopening a safe community area at St Pauls Cathedral in the city which will provide refreshments to late-night revellers while they wait for a taxi or NightRider bus.
AAP
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