In brief
On November 6 Victoria Police announced Operation Phoenix would expand city‑wide, adding dedicated overnight patrols, targeted interventions and integration with a burglary and vehicle‑theft task force. Since July the original effort has led to over 230 arrests linked to organised crime, and the new phase aims to saturate high‑risk areas in the CBD and outer suburbs while addressing the rising use of young offenders and arson as a tool of intimidation.
Victoria Police on Friday announced that it will expand Operation Phoenix to target shootings, arson attacks and related violent crime across the entire city of Melbourne, beginning with dedicated overnight patrols from Sunday. The announcement came as part of a broader strategy to crack down on organised‑crime‑related violence after the original operation, launched in July, produced more than 230 arrests linked to extortion and gang activity.
Operation Phoenix initially focused on northwest suburbs where an increase in drive‑by shootings and arson campaigns have been documented. According to a Victoria Police statement, the 230 arrests include a significant portion of people directly linked to organised crime groups, with a particular emphasis on the exploitation of youthful offenders to carry out serious offences on behalf of others. The police say arson has been used by gang members as a tool to intimidate, influence and exert control over rival criminal groups.
The expansion, as described by Victoria Police, will involve proactive patrols, saturation of high‑risk areas in the city’s central business district, as well as the southern and eastern suburbs. Officers will now operate overnight, a departure from the previous daytime schedule that primarily addressed the northwest focus. The new approach is aimed at preventing incidents before they occur by deterring potential offenders through visible police presence.
In addition to the new night‑time activities, the operation will collaborate with a separate police task force that has been handling aggravated burglaries and vehicle thefts since 2023. That operation has recorded over 5,800 arrests in that period. Victoria Police say combining resources and data between the two initiatives will allow for a more comprehensive view of criminal networks that spread across multiple offence types.
Background and Achievements of the Original Phoenix Operation
When Operation Phoenix was first rolled out in July, it was specifically designed to address the surge in extortion‑related arson and drive‑by shootings that had become a challenge for the northwest suburbs. Officers were deployed to hotspots to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance and engage with community members. The police claim that the operation’s early focus was successful in linking armed offenders to the organised‑crime groups behind the violence, leading to a significant number of arrests and charges.
Despite the success, Victoria Police acknowledge that the pattern of violent and property‑crime offences continues to evolve. Injuries and damage from arson incidents remain a concern for residents, and arson is increasingly being used as a ‘business tool’ by gangs. Police agencies from other Australian states have explored similar tactics, yet the specifics of how to best address the organised‑crime element remain a question that Victoria Police are still examining.
Online comments from community groups have highlighted worries that the expanded operations may inadvertently increase the presence of police in residential neighbourhoods overnight, raising questions about privacy and civil liberties. Victoria Police officials have noted that the increased night patrols are intended to reduce crime, not to infringe on normal living. No policy change on the use of personal data or surveillance methods has yet been announced.
Researchers in criminology departments at Australian universities have offered both support and cautionary notes. While some experts praise the coordinated effort to tackle inter‑group violent crime, others express uncertainty regarding whether the expanded operation will reduce or merely scatter the offending activity. The open question remains whether a wider surveillance approach will halt a trend of arson that has become a sorting force within organised crime.
Looking forward, Victoria Police will continue to assess the impact of the expanded Operation Phoenix. Outcomes such as reductions in arson incidents, arrests related to shootings, and decreases in vehicle theft or burglary raids will form key metrics for future policing plans. The police have stated that they will review the strategy’s effectiveness after the first six months of city‑wide deployment, ensuring that the expansion has the intended effect on community safety.
