The new operation over summer will be led by a sergeant with four dedicated officers, including two on bicycles and two on foot.

Senior Sergeant Stacey Glenister, who helps oversee Ballarat’s frontline police at the Dana Street station, said the team would target anti-social behaviour, youth offending and robberies.

“The purpose of these patrols is to make the community feel safe,” she said.

“They will focus on areas such as Bridge Mall, Central Square, Stockland – all the main shopping hubs.”

The thinking behind the move is what the force calls proactive policing, which involves strategies to prevent crime before it happens.

After speaking to residents and traders about their safety concerns, officers hope a bigger police presence in Ballarat’s CBD during the summer period will help deter offending.

The new patrols will last for at least the next four months, Senior Sergeant Glenister said.