Victoria Police figures show state is on track to surpass last year’s record of 14,805 edged weapons that were seized and destroyed

Police have confiscated more than 6000 edged weapons so far this year amid heightened concern at the number of Victorians arming themselves.

Victoria is headed for record weapon seizure levels as banned blades, machetes and zombie knives are confiscated at a rate of 44 per day.

New figures reveal police have taken 6876 edged weapons from the wrong hands so far this year, three-quarters of them in Melbourne.

A continuation of those unprecedented figures would push the state well past last year when a record 14,805 were seized and destroyed.

The shock results come amid escalating community concern at the number of Victorians arming themselves.

Weapons seized by police displayed on a park bench

Victoria Police is confiscating 44 edged weapons per day.

There is community concern at the number of Victorians arming themselves.

Last month’s brutal Northland shopping centre gang fight and a mass stabbing of four victims in the Bairnsdale CBD have heightened the alarm.

Many of this year’s seizures have been made in homes during targeted search warrants on known offenders.

Among them are gang members under scrutiny from the force’s Operation Alliance, which zeros in on the state’s worst young offenders.

Weapons are frequently uncovered during bail compliance checks, search warrants, car intercepts and street checks in gang hangouts as part of Alliance.

Many seizures have been made during targeted search warrants on known offenders.

Weapons are frequently uncovered during bail compliance checks

A series of recent incidents have heightened the alarm over the use of weapons.

Police said while people carrying knives in places such as shopping centres was not common, the Northland and Bairnsdale incidents were “highly concerning” and were the reason for its regular weapons operations in busy locations like retail areas and public transport hubs.

Eleven such operations, known as OMNIs, are run annually and, although only 59 weapons have been confiscated this year, the work is viewed as being crucial to deterrence and community reassurance.

The level of edged weapon confiscations has risen by 31 per cent in the past decade.

Victoria Police statistics show a steady rise in most years since the 11,331 seizures made in 2015.

Supt Matt Baynes said police would not let up in working to find and destroy weapons.

“While recent changes to machete laws will help choke the supply and double the penalties for possessing these weapons, the community should be assured police continue to relentlessly remove knives from the hands of criminals,” he said.

“In recent weeks, we have seen a number of public attacks involving edged weapons, with police quickly identifying and arresting those involved.”

Originally published as Victoria Police figures show state is on track to surpass last year’s record of 14,805 edged weapons that were seized and destroyed