A record number of knives are set to be seized amid heightened community concern about the weapons following high-profile stabbing attacks including a wild shopping centre fight, according to police.
An average of 44 machetes, knives and blades are taken off the streets each day in Victoria, three quarters of them in metropolitan Melbourne.
In 2024, some 14,805 edged weapons were seized but that's set to increase in 2025, with 6876 already taken during the first five months of the year.
Fears about the prevalence and use of knives flared following a fight between machete-wielding rival gang members at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north in May.
Shoppers ran for their lives and one person was taken to hospital, with seven people arrested after the attack.
In the days after the fight the state government fast-tacked a ban on the sale of machetes, while an amnesty period allowing people to give up the weapons takes effect from September 1.
Police said it's not common for people to carry knives at shopping centres or other highly visible locations however 11 organised searches at these types of locations this year has uncovered people carrying 59 weapons.
Known youth gang members and other people deemed likely to be carrying weapons are also targeted by police.
Superintendent Matt Baynes sought to allay public concerns by pointing out investigators quickly identified and arrested those accused of being involved in recent knife attacks in public.
"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.
