Drugs, knives, crime: Behind the scenes of Victoria Police’s Chapel St clean-up operation

A man wielding a meat cleaver was among 130 people arrested by police when they descended on Chapel St in a bid to clean up the deteriorating entertainment and shopping hub.

A man wielding a meat cleaver was among 130 people arrested by police who have saturated Chapel St in a bid to clean up the deteriorating entertainment and shopping hub.

For generations, Chapel St was the premier place to party, shop and socialise but that is now far from the case with drugs, violence and crime infiltrating Prahran and South Yarra.

The strip, which is visited by about 80,000 people each weekend, has been home to a spate of firebombings, stabbings, retail crime and drug-fuelled brawls.

Victoria Police have made no apologies in their efforts to wipe criminal behaviour from the street as they crack down on those causing the most harm to Chapel St traders and visitors.

Police gather at Chapel St for night patrol. Picture: David Caird

Police ride horses down Chapel St after calls from locals for greater police presence in the precinct. Picture: David Caird

Police say retail crime accounts for about 30 per cent of all criminal incidents along Chapel St, which has risen 14 per cent overall.

Victoria Police Inspector Georgie Swinton said the public were fed up with the violence which included a firebombing which ended up killing the alleged offender recently.

“It does cause us some issues in Chapel St,” she said.

“We’ve dedicated 3,000 police hours to Chapel St which has resulted in dozens of arrests.

“It’s impossible to measure how much crime is prevented by the presence we have around Chapel Street night-life each weekend, however serious crimes against the person are certainly trending in the right direction.”

Victoria Police Inspector Georgie Swinton said the public were fed up with the violence. Picture: David Caird

Officers took 130 people into custody off Chapel St across two major operations. Picture: David Caird

The Sunday Herald Sun was given exclusive access to two of the force’s biggest Chapel St operations which has seen 130 people taken into custody so far this year.

The dog squad, public order response team, mounted branch, highway patrol and local officers all descended on the strip last Saturday night and resulted in several people being arrested.

During the 20-hour operation police dealt with more than 400 people and made nine arrests.

They also intercepted 355 cars and conducted 300 preliminary breath tests.

Sheriffs were also able to identify 31 drivers with unpaid fines of $410,000, resulting in 12 vehicles being clamped.

More than $100,000 of those fines were paid on the day as a result.

Dog Squad sniffer dog Major on patrol in Chapel Street. Picture: David Caird

Major on the hunt in Chapel St. Picture: David Caird

Police say their presence alone goes a long way to deterring crime on Chapel St and have been proactive in disrupting a number of crimes.

The majority of people arrested were shoplifters, with alcohol the most commonly stolen item, as well as food and clothing.

Police have been targeting shoplifters in supermarkets, liquor stores and clothing shops along the strip, leading to 65 arrests.

More than 80 per cent of those arrested were repeated shoplifters, with one man arrested having a record of 147 such incidents.

Acting Sgt. Liz McCormack from the Public Order Response Team keeps watch down Chapel Street. Picture: David Caird

Officers allegedly found a meat cleaver in a man’s backpack after he allegedly stole a jumper from a clothing store this month.

He was one of 10 alleged retail thieves arrested in just one day.

Another man on bail was also accused of stealing 21 bottles of alcohol over a five-day stint which saw him hit with a series of charges.

On June 1, a patron who had left a pub moments earlier was accused of headbutting a random man, giving his alleged victim a broken nose and tooth.

The 19-year-old was swiftly arrested and charged on the night.

Prahran Police Sergeant Angie Le Sueur said Chapel St traders were hurting from the soaring amount of retail crime.

“Retail theft not only hurts businesses, but there is a negative flow-on effect for all consumers and customers in the form of higher prices at the checkout,” she said.

“Times are tough for a lot of people; however, stealing is never the answer.

“Having a criminal record can affect current or future employment and will leave a smear on your name for the rest of your life.”

Originally published as Drugs, knives, crime: Behind the scenes of Victoria Police’s Chapel St clean-up operation