Fears for police safety after data shows Melbourne gun crime on the rise

There are fears Melbourne's gun crime could be spiralling out of control with police data showing a 300 percent rise in firearm offences in the past five years.

A police officer is in hospital after he was shot in the head with a sawn-off shotgun during a traffic stop in Melbourne yesterday.

It is believed the incident could be linked to a drive-by shooting at the home of George Williams, father of late underworld figure Carl Williams.

Victorian Police Association secretary Ron Iddles told the TODAY Show officers were ready to go back on the street despite fears over the state's rising gun violence.

"No doubt they're anxious, they're concerned about the rise of firearms in the community," he said.

"Yesterday was a cold, callous act."

Mr Iddles said the streets were more dangerous than he had ever seen.

"The homicide rate's not up but if you have ice and you have the threat of terrorism, it's more dangerous now on the street as a police officer (than) in all my time of 37 years," he said.

Data shows police find an illegal firearm in Victoria every 48 hours.

Mr Iddles said Melbourne's northwest suburbs were a particular hotspot, with a 300 percent rise in firearm discoveries and offences in the past five years.

He said there was no reason to think the city faced a new gangland war, but acknowledged Roberta and George Williams were being targeted.

Molotov cocktails were thrown at Roberta Williams' house on Sunday, the Herald Sun has reported.

"There's absolutely no doubt there's a target on George and Roberta," Mr Iddles said.

He said the courts needed to punish firearm offences more harshly to curb the rising tide of gun violence.