Almost 20,000 patrols as Operation Park marks three years

Today marks three years since Operation Park was established, and since then, Victoria Police has conducted almost 20,000 patrols to keep the Jewish community safe.

Operation Park was initiated immediately following the October 7 attacks in 2023 to monitor and co-ordinate the investigation of offences associated with the conflict in the Middle East.

Almost everyday day since, police have conducted proactive patrols of places of Jewish cultural significance, including places of worship, synagogues and shuls, and community halls.

Approximately 85% of those patrols have been in Jewish heartland across Melbourne’s southeast, with a particular focus on the Balaclava, Caulfield, Elsternwick, Ripponlea and St Kilda areas.

Standard daily patrols under Operation Park are bolstered during periods of cultural significance, including Shabbat, which occurs every Friday, as well as the current High Holy Days which includes Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah among many more.

Around 1800 policing hours were dedicated to patrols during the High Holy period across Melbourne’s southeast alone, which ran from 11 September to Sunday 4 October.

Over the past three years, there have been 588 reports of antisemitism made to Victoria Police for a range of offences including hate speech, vandalism, assaults and intimidation made towards members of the Jewish community.

Police have undertaken almost 1200 investigations linked to prejudice motivated crimes, resulting in 316 arrests. Penalties have included unpaid community work, significant fines and even prison sentences.

The most significant ongoing investigation relates to the terror attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea on 6 December 2024.

The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has charged three men over their alleged roles in the attack. A then 20-year-old from Airport West was charged on 19 June 2026 with criminal damage by fire (Arson), which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment. A then 21-year-old Werribee man was charged on 30 July 2025, and a then 20-year-old Meadow Heights was charged on 30 21 August 2025 – both accused of breaking in and setting the fire.

A fourth man, then aged 20 from Melton South, was charged on 16 July 2025 for allegedly stealing a communal crime car, which is alleged to have been used to drive to the synagogue the night of the firebombing.

Other incidents and arrests of note include:

• A 26-year-old man became the first person in Australia to be jailed for performing a Nazi salute. The incident occurred outside the County Court of Victoria on 27 October 2023, less than a week after legislation was introduced banning the offensive gesture. He was jailed for a month following a failed attempt to appeal the decision.
• Two males were convicted following the racially motivated assault of a man and theft of his mobile phone in Fawkner on 9 November 2023. The pair were handed a 26-month community corrections order to perform 200 hours of unpaid community work and undergo 100 hours of treatment.
• A 39-year-old Keilor man who mounted a footpath and intentionally drove towards a group of Jewish people after a pro-Israel rally in Caulfield on 10 November 2023 was convicted and handed a 24-month community corrections order to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. His licence was also disqualified for a year.
• A 37-year-old Sunset Strip man who was sentenced to 77 days imprisonment – which was equivalent to time already served – as well as an 18-month community corrections order, after spray painting Nazi symbols on five businesses in Cowes on 13 November 2023.
• A 35-year-old man was charged following a fire at a synagogue in East Melbourne on 4 July 2025. 20 people inside the synagogue self-evacuated and were not physically injured. The man was sentenced to time served; more than 130 days behind bars.
• A 47-year-old Richmond man was charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to a vehicle in St Kilda East on Christmas Day last year. The vehicle had a mobile billboard on the roof to celebrate Chanukkah. A woman and three children were evacuated from the property as a precaution and no one was physically injured. The man remains in custody to reappear in court on 8 October.

More than 750 Victoria Police officers and employees have undertaken Jewish cultural awareness training sessions to better understand Jewish rituals, clothing and traditions that are unique to ultra-orthodox, orthodox and secular Jewish people.

Since the Bondi massacre on 14 December 2025, Victoria Police are now equipped with longarms when patrolling significant events for the Jewish community.

Anyone who has been the victim of a hate crime or has information that may assist police in an investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestopersvic.com.au.

Quotes attributable to Glen Eira, Bayside and Kingston Superintendent Martin Bourke:

“Incidents across the world and in Australia have re-shaped the way we police here in Victoria when it comes to providing appropriate support to the Jewish community. We’ve had to adapt to a changing world.

“We know while this time of year is meant to be a celebration, it is now intermingled with heavy moments of grief and reflection, as wounds are reopened as we commemorate the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, while nearing the first anniversary of the Bondi attack.

“Members of the Jewish community continue to be subjected to vile acts of hate – from verbal abuse, to graffiti, assaults and even death threats. This behaviour is not welcome towards anyone in our community and the message from Victoria Police is that we simply won’t tolerate it.

“Victoria Police has undertaken almost 20,000 patrols as part of Operation Park and we will continue to do everything we can to only ensure the Jewish community is safe but feels safe too.”