Police will have power to order masked protesters away from military expo
Police will have the power to order masked troublemakers away from next week’s Land Forces military expo in Melbourne, with officers given special powers for what shapes as one of the force’s biggest operations in years.
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Police will have the power to order masked protesters away from next week’s Land Forces military expo in Melbourne.
Officers working the massive operation over several days will have the authority to send away those who are wearing masks, if they suspect they are trying to avoid identification or minimise the effect of capsicum spray.
It is among a range of special powers made available to police – some using anti-terror legislation – during the September 11 to 13 event at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
Officers using the anti-terror provisions will be able to request a person’s identification and search a person or vehicle in the vicinity of Land Forces.
The kind of weapons search powers sometimes used for operations at trouble spot locations like public transport hubs and shopping centres will also be available.
The same range of powers were in place during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit hosted by Melbourne earlier this year.
Activist groups are hoping to have as many as 25,000 demonstrators converge on Land Forces.
The convention centre has been declared a “designated place” during the police operation surrounding land forces.
It is expected more than 1000 officers will be required for the protests at Land Forces, a major international event for defence firms and other military organisations.
Protective services officers are also being brought in to assist police for what shapes as one of the force’s biggest operations in years.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said special police powers had been granted under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act ahead of Land Forces.
“When hosting an event of this magnitude, community safety and the protection of life remains our number one focus,” she said.
The spokeswoman said there was no intelligence suggesting Land Forces was under specific threat but that the National Terrorism Threat Level was at probable.
“These powers were sought as a precautionary measure so we can provide the highest level of security for the event and protect everyone,’ the spokeswoman said.
There are concerns Land Forces could be the most volatile protest environment in Melbourne since the chaotic World Economic Forum chaos of 2000.
A wide range of activist groups are expected to be represented, some who have spent months planning their tactics.
As recently as last week, the Victorian and Australian Greens called on Premier Jacinta Allan to cancel Land Forces.
Greens MP for Richmond Gabrielle de Vietri said the expo and an “excessive police presence” would risk safety, peace and social cohesion.
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