# Victorian security officer deployment initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/victorian-security-officer-deployment-initiatives > Updated: 2026-08-13T05:03:58.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. In Victoria, authorities and political groups are utilizing Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to address rising crime and violence in specific sectors. The Victorian Coalition proposed a two-year pilot program to deploy 70 PSOs across seven major hospitals to combat occupational violence against healthcare workers. This proposal followed reports of approximately 24,000 to 25,000 incidents of violence occurring during 2024-25. The plan faced criticism for a lack of consultation with health facilities and police. Separately, Premier Ben Carroll announced an escalation in the crackdown on retail crime by appointing 150 additional PSOs to major shopping centres and retail hubs. This initiative is part of ‘Operation Pulse’, a program launched in December 2025 that has led to over 1,700 arrests. The move follows reports from the Australian Retail Council indicating that Victoria experiences roughly 100 violent retail crime events daily. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: Victoria increases retail crime crackdown with 150 new officers Victorian Premier Ben Carroll is deploying 150 additional Protective Services Officers to combat retail crime as part of Operation Pulse, following reports of rising violent incidents in shopping centres. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/victoria-increases-retail-crime-crackdown-with-150-new-officers ### 2026-08-08: Victorian Coalition proposes hospital security pilot The Victorian Coalition has pledged to station 70 Protective Services Officers at seven major hospitals to combat rising workplace violence, though critics cite a lack of consultation with health services. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/victorian-coalition-proposes-hospital-security-pilot --- Cite as: Victorian security officer deployment initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/victorian-security-officer-deployment-initiatives