Exclusive look inside Victoria Police's elite public order response unit

A man with a so-called homemade "pen gun", a woman wanted for failing to turn up to court, and a man nabbed with a luxury women's handbag have all been arrested during a blitz by the Victoria Police's Public Order Response Team.

A Current Affair was given an exclusive look inside the elite police unit, shadowing its members while on the beat.

The 300-member squad — equipped with riot gear, long-arm rifles and non-lethal crowd control options — is usually deployed to the front line of the state's most volatile protests.

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But away from unruly demonstrations, they can be called at a moment's notice to help with anything from street brawls to warrants.

Watch the full video in the player above.