Police rifle suspected terror dens under new orders to find guns
TERROR suspects are among those who have been searched for guns under tough new police powers, where officers can carry out warrantless searches for weapons.
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TERROR suspects are among those who have been searched for guns under tough new police powers.
Armed crime squad detectives have served 53 firearms prohibition orders, which give police the power to carry out warrantless searches for guns.
Recipients have included people eyed by counter-terrorist agencies, bikies, members of Middle-Eastern organised crime gangs, and juveniles.
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And a further 30 FPOs have been prepared, and will be served soon. The squad’s Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Burnett, who has been serving the orders, said the dismay caused by his visits was clear.
“Their faces have dropped. They’re well and truly aware the game has changed,” Det. Sen-Sgt Burnett said.
“(One said): ‘You’re killing me. I can’t tool up any more’.”
The armed crime taskforce has investigated 18 non-fatal shootings so far this year, and investigators hope the preventive effect of the FPOs will ensure this declining trend in weapons offences continues.
And Det. Sen-Sgt Burnett said when there were shootings, the orders would allow police to intervene and search those likely to make revenge attacks before they could act.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said thousands of people could potentially be subjected to FPOs.
He said the initial issuing of orders had been followed by 48 searches which did not find firearms. Mr Patton said he believed those in line for the orders knew what was coming and had moved or disposed of their weapons in time.
FPOs can be imposed based on an individual’s criminal history, associations, and behaviour, or on intelligence.
Mr Patton said legitimate firearms owners had nothing to fear from the orders.
“This is about criminals,” the deputy commissioner said.
“It’s about those involved in serious and violent crime.”
Former prisoners are among those who have been served with the orders, which last for 10 years.
FPOs are currently being prepared from within Victoria Police’s crime command, but will eventually be issued at a district level.
Serious family violence offenders are expected to be among those suspect who are likely to come under scrutiny from police officers issuing the new orders.