Victoria has introduced new laws treating ram raids as aggravated burglary, carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment regardless of the offender's age. The legislation, which passed Parliament in December, came into effect today and replaces previous charges that treated ram raids as a series of lesser offences. The Shopping Centre Council is calling for Protective Services Officers to be permanently stationed at major retail hubs, while police continue patrolling centres under the $6.5 million Operation Pulse trial extended until the end of the year.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.