Shopper resorts to using deodorant as protection after series of public knife attacks

One Australian shopper has adopted an unusual approach to personal security in the wake of a spate of violent knife crimes in shopping centres.

Joel Cauchi's rampage at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction last year sent shockwaves around the world.

In Melbourne, Sunday shoppers were left stunned earlier this year when thugs brandished machetes during a brawl.

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Weeks later, a stolen car sent the same shopping centre into another lockdown.

Just days ago, further terror unfolded outside another bustling shopping strip in Melbourne's Moonee Ponds, where two knife incidents occurred within an hour of each other.

Moonee Ponds local Jodie has been left so rattled, she now carries deodorant in her pocket.

"Cause it's the only thing you can't get charged with. We're not allowed to carry pepper spray. Rexona you can. We're women," she said.

Security and risk expert Scott Taylor says more security guards aren't the answer.

Instead he believes increased training in body language recognition would help.

"It needs to be underpinned by the shopping centres having people that are trained to pick up the behaviours of people with bad intent," he said.

"Because people with bad intent whether it's violence, whether it's shoplifting, they leak behaviours. They leak physiological changes that can be picked up."

In many of those incidents, good Samaritans were forced to intervene.

Victoria's opposition leader, former policeman Brad Battin, believes police vacancy rates need to be addressed.

"I've got daughters - you used to drop them off so they could go to the movies at the local shopping centre, they could go out buy some clothes, have some lunch, but families are starting to feel less safe with those opportunities moving forward," Battin said.

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"Police numbers in Victoria with 1100 vacancies is a huge concern for everyone.

"Over 40 stations closed or reduced hours - that means the community doesn't just have the perception of being less safe, they are genuinely less safe because we don't have proactive patrols to stop offences like this happening in the first place."

In a statement, Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said the state government was "cracking down on offenders with some of the toughest laws in the country".

"This includes our new bail laws that are already working to remand more alleged offenders — putting community safety first in all bail decisions and delivering consequences for those who break bail," he said.

"We've expanded Victoria Police's stop and search powers, which they are using to run frequent operations in places like shopping centres — helping seize thousands more weapons off opportunistic offenders.

"The sale of machetes is banned, and a ban on their possession will come into effect on September 1."

Watch the full video in the player above.

FULL STATEMENT FROM VICTORIAN POLICE MINISTER ANTHONY CARBINES

Any crime is unacceptable, and everyone deserves to be safe at work. We are cracking down on offenders with some of the toughest laws in the country.

This includes our new bail laws that are already working to remand more alleged offenders — putting community safety first in all bail decisions and delivering consequences for those who break bail.

We've expanded Victoria Police's stop and search powers, which they are using to run frequent operations in places like shopping centres — helping seize thousands of more weapons off opportunistic offenders. The sale of machetes is banned, and a ban on their possession will come into effect on September 1.

Brad Battin's Liberals have never been more divided, more reckless and more incompetent.