A man carrying a large knife through a busy Melbourne shopping centre has been arrested, terrifying shoppers and reigniting debate over community safety and the Allan Government’s response to knife crime.
Victoria Police said officers were called to Forest Hill Chase on Canterbury Road about 11.50 am on Thursday after reports that a man was carrying a knife inside the centre. Police said there were no threats made with the weapon, and no injuries were reported. The 30-year-old Box Hill man was arrested without incident and taken to the hospital for assessment, and is expected to be interviewed.
Footage shared online showed the man moving through the shopping centre while shoppers watched in alarm. One witness told the man had been pacing near the escalators outside Coles while holding what looked like a butcher’s boning knife.
“It looked like a butcher’s boning knife, about eight inches long,” he said.
Images from the scene showed police restraining the man inside the centre, while an officer was later seen holding the knife while wearing blue gloves.
The incident caused panic among shoppers, with some reportedly locking themselves inside stores as police moved in. The Nightly reported witnesses said families with children sought shelter in nearby shops while the situation unfolded.
The arrest comes amid heightened concern about knife and machete-related incidents in Melbourne, particularly after several violent episodes in public places and shopping centres.
Last year, the Allan Government announced a statewide machete ban, with possession, carrying, use, buying or selling of machetes without a valid exemption becoming a criminal offence from 1 September 2025. The government also introduced safe disposal bins at police stations during an amnesty period, saying the policy was aimed at taking dangerous weapons off the streets.
But critics have argued the policy has failed to reassure Victorians, particularly as footage of weapons in public places continues to spread across social media.
Indian Australian community leader Goldy Brar told The Australia Today the latest incident showed Victorians were losing confidence in public safety.
“Premier Allan has failed Victorians. We can’t feel safe in our own homes, and now people are scared while shopping with their families,” Mr Brar said.
“Her machete bin gimmick has failed miserably. Victorians need real safety, not political stunts.”
The Opposition and community critics have repeatedly accused the government of being too slow to respond to violent crime, while the government says it has introduced tougher laws, including the machete ban and changes to bail settings.
Victoria’s machete ban followed a violent brawl at Northland Shopping Centre in 2025, where machete-wielding youths were seen fighting inside the centre. At the time, Premier Jacinta Allan said there was “zero reason” for people to be carrying machetes in public and promised stronger police powers and penalties.
However, the Forest Hill incident has again placed pressure on the government over public perceptions of safety in everyday places such as shopping centres, public transport hubs and suburban streets.
Police have stressed that no one was injured in Thursday’s incident and that the man was arrested without incident. The matter remains under investigation.
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