Timeline: How Operation Fortitude unravelled

Updated

Operation Fortitude started with a press release from Victoria Police in the morning and ended with a protest in Melbourne's CBD that ultimately led to the cancellation of the crime blitz.

Here is how the day unfolded:

Victoria Police announces Operation Fortitude

9:52am, August 28 2015

Victorian Police release a statement saying the public transport system will "be at its safest ... as a diverse team of transport and enforcement agencies take to the streets as a part of Operation Fortitude".

The operation will involve Metro Trains, Yarra Trams, the Sheriff's Office, Taxi Services Commission, Victoria Police and the Australia Border Force (ABF).

Transit and Public Safety Command Acting Superintendent Campbell Mill says police will be showing strength in numbers.

"While we are all separate organisations, we all have something in common — a responsibility to keep our community safe," Acting Superintendent Mill says.

"In order to do that, we need to ensure that people are behaving appropriately."

Border Force releases its statement on the operation

10:14am, August 28 2015

The ABF releases its statement on the operation, saying it will speak "with any individual we cross paths with" and warning officers will be checking people's visa details.

"You need to be aware of the conditions of your visa; if you commit visa fraud you should know it's only a matter of time before you're caught out," ABF regional commander for Victoria and Tasmania Don Smith says.

Police announce 2:00pm press conference

10:28am, August 28 2015

Police announce an afternoon press conference with the relevant agencies on the steps of Flinders Street station.

Acting Superintendent Campbell Mill, with the Victoria Police dog squad, Protective Services Officers and police are scheduled to join representatives from the Sheriff's Office, Australian Border Force and the taxi directorate.

Border Force seeks to clarify its role

12:54pm, August 28 2015

As a backlash builds, the ABF back-pedals on its earlier statement.

"To be clear, the ABF does not and will not stop people at random in the streets ... the ABF does not target of the basis of race, religion, or ethnicity," it says in a statement.

Protesters take to Flinders Street

2:00pm, August 28 2015

Hundreds of protesters take to the streets outside Flinders Street station demonstrating against the involvement of ABF in the operation.

Flinders Street traffic is brought to a standstill.

Police announce press conference cancellation

2:26pm, August 28 2015

Operation Fortitude is cancelled

2:39pm, August 28 2015

Police issue a statement saying the operation has been cancelled.

"Victoria Police has made a decision not to go ahead with this weekend's Operation Fortitude," the statement says.

"We understand there has been a high level of community interest and concern which has been taken into consideration when making this decision.

"Victoria Police's priority is the safety and wellbeing of the whole community and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to achieve this."

Topics: police, crime, law-crime-and-justice, federal-government, government-and-politics, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted