Police make dozens of arrests as protesters march outside Luna Park in St Kilda, some in Melbourne CBD

Police made nearly 100 arrests as anti-lockdown protesters marched in St Kilda and Melbourne’s CBD, and vastly outnumbered the crowd.

Police made 94 arrests as anti-lockdown activists staged a disorganised and disjointed protest in and around Melbourne, with most meeting outside Luna Park and marching through the streets of St Kilda.

A busload of police arrived at the theme park just before noon on Saturday, with officers forming a line at the main entrance.

Among the first arrests was a man placed in handcuffs about 12.25pm as they led him away from the popular landmark.

Shortly after that, riot police officers chased and pinned down another man, while protesters spilt out onto Beach Road.

Officers placed a man in handcuffs as they led him away from Luna Park. Picture: Olivia Jenkins

Riot police officers pin down a man. Picture: Olivia Jenkins

Protesters spilt out onto Beach Rd. Picture: Olivia Jenkins

There appeared to be confusion among protesters communicating inside encrypted message chats, with some people commenting they were in the CBD and “no one else was around”.

Others were warning each other about the police presence in St Kilda and around Luna Park as they planned ways to avoid arrests.

Protest organisers have usually waited until 11am in past rallies to drop a location, but no precise area was named.

Victoria Police said the arrests came as a result of breaches of the chief health officer’s directions as well as other matters including outstanding warrants and drug offences.

Protesters communicating inside encrypted message chats warned each other about the police presence in St Kilda as they figure out ways to avoid arrests.

“Police responded quickly as small groups of protesters gathered throughout the afternoon,” the force said in a statement.

“All those arrested will be issued with penalty notices for breaching the CHO directions.

“Police are disappointed to see the number of people who are continuing to breach the CHO directions and will continue to arrest and fine them if they are found to be in breach of the CHO directions.”

Saturday’s protest - where police outnumbered the crowd - followed a series of riots throughout the week in Melbourne, with planned “freedom rallies” also scheduled to go ahead in Sydney.

Protesters vandalised the CFMEU headquarters in Melbourne on Monday, while some people hurled bottles, flares and rocks through the CBD streets on Tuesday before hijacking the West Gate Bridge.

They then marched again on Wednesday, desecrating Melbourne’s shrine of remembrance.

Protesters march along the West Gate Bridge on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

But protests on Thursday and Friday fizzled as the number of people attending plummeted.

Organisers have vowed to stage marches daily until construction workers were allowed back on the job following Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews ordering the entire industry to shut down for at least two weeks.

NSW POLICE DISPERSE LARGE CROWDS

Meanwhile in NSW, police were forced to move along revellers who illegally gathered en-masse at popular Sydney beaches.

Officers were dispatched to Manly about 7.30pm on Friday over reports crowd numbers were increasing.

Police issued multiple move-on directions along with three infringements for breaches of public health orders.

Large crowds also gathered at Bondi but complied when told to disperse.

Originally published as Police make dozens of arrests as protesters march outside Luna Park in St Kilda, some in Melbourne CBD