Protective services officers (PSO) will patrol shopping centres over summer as part of a series of new Victoria Police youth crime prevention measures.

The police force will overhaul its deployment of PSOs, employ "reservist officers" to handle administrative tasks at police stations, and purchase 800 hand-held metal detectors.

The announcements mark day five of new measures spruiked this week by the government, designed to tackle the state's growing crime rate .

Measures announced from Tuesday to Friday this week include new laws to address violence at protests, deterring youth crime and protections for retail and hospitality workers .

Shopping centre patrols

A 90-day trial in shopping centres to begin before Christmas — titled "Operation Pulse" — will see PSOs and police offic

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