Victoria Police launch Wild West-style manhunt for lockdown protesters but ...

Victoria Police launch Wild West-style manhunt for lockdown protesters but ...
Victoria Police launch Wild West-style manhunt for lockdown protesters but ...

Victoria Police has launched an extraordinary manhunt for young lockdown protesters who wielded flares at last weekend's protests. 

'Flare Fools Wanted' screamed the front page of Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper after a force command 'drop' of images detectives wished to capture. 

Cue Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius - Victoria Police's firebrand mouth piece his boss rolls out every time their political masters demand a witch hunt. 

Victoria Police has published a series of 'wanted' photos, which were splashed across the front of a Melbourne newspaper

Victoria Police has published a series of 'wanted' photos, which were splashed across the front of a Melbourne newspaper

How three removalists travelled from a Covid hotspot in Sydney to towns all over Australia despite KNOWING they had the virus

How three removalists travelled from a Covid hotspot in Sydney to towns all over Australia despite KNOWING they had the virus

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius addresses the media during a press conference.  He is the same cop who last year labelled lockdown protesters the 'tinfoil hat wearing brigade'.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius addresses the media during a press conference.  He is the same cop who last year labelled lockdown protesters the 'tinfoil hat wearing brigade'.

Anti-lockdown protestors are seen during a protest in the Melbourne CBD last Saturday

Anti-lockdown protestors are seen during a protest in the Melbourne CBD last Saturday

Mr Cornelius branded protesters as 'selfish' and 'self-indulgent' demonstrators whose actions risked the very lives of every Victorian.

He is the same cop who last year labelled lockdown protesters the 'tinfoil hat wearing brigade'. 

Thousands had turned-up at Saturday's CBD rally, which was sparked by Victoria's fifth hard lockdown since the pandemic began last year. 

While not condoning the actions of the protesters, the hypocrisy of Victoria Police in throwing individuals to the wolves is astounding. 

Flares are dangerous, Mr Cornelius reminded Victorians. 

TOP COP ROLLS OUT WHEN LEFT SPIN CALLS

It was May 2019 when Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius made the extraordinary move to boot his own men. 

He faced the press to admit police 'stuffed up' a raid on LGBTI bookshop Hares & Hyenas in Fitzroy and personally visited the shop to apologise to a man he believed police had wrongly bashed.

Police had stormed the apartment attached to the bookshop on Johnston Street searching for what residents were told was an 'armed member of a 'Lebanese' gang'. 

Nik Dimopoulos ended up with a shattered arm. 

In February, it was revealed Victoria Police stood by the actions its officer Mr Cornelius had publicly attacked years earlier.  

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'Flares burn at more than 1000C and pose a serious risk when discharged in crowded spaces,' the spiel went.

Police warned those that set off flares at the protest 'endangered not only police but people in the vicinity'.

This lot faced fines of up to $18,174 and would be charged under the Dangerous Goods Act.

On Tuesday, it was revealed the New South Wales removalists who sparked Victoria's fifth lockdown would not even be charged.

In fact, they walked scot free with a $200 fine dished out by Premier Daniel Andrews' health department. 

This was despite footage showing them breaching their workers’ permits by not wearing masks and failing to socially distance outside Maribyrnong’s Ariele Apartments on July 8. 

The premier and his cronies had talked tough back then as they justified the breach to lock down Victorians. 

'The book would be thrown at them', Victorians were promised. 

Roll forward to Tuesday - the day before Victorians were to be set free - and the matter was quietly put to bed. 

'We’re all human and it is challenging and, you know, everyone’s got an excuse for not doing this and perhaps doing that,' Mr Andrews squeaked. 

Commissioner Shane Patton claimed police were only ever assisting the health department with its investigation. 

A protester with a smoke flare on Spring Street during the Freedom protest on July 24 in Melbourne

A protester with a smoke flare on Spring Street during the Freedom protest on July 24

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