Criminal gangs and organised crime groups are the targets of a new high-powered 80-officer-strong Victoria Police task force.
The Visibility, Intelligence, Prevention, Enforcement and Reassurance task force, to be known as Viper, was announced on Friday and will focus on criminal networks including bikie gangs.
It will launch on Monday, with officers led by a detective inspector targeting members and associates of those groups and criminals involved in homicides and shootings.
"Victoria is a very hostile environment," Chief Commissioner Shane Patton told reporters on Friday.
"The heat is going to go up even further now as a result of this task force."
The tactical and investigative unit also aims to create a difficult environment for criminal groups to operate.
This will include firearm prohibition order searches, bail compliance checks, policing of outlaw motorcycle gang runs, vehicle checks enforcement and the deployment of officers to events known to attract organised crime group members.
The task force was recommended in last year's review of organised crime in Victoria.
"As the nature of organised crime continues to evolve, we know we have to be agile and change the way we confront these groups," Comm Patton said.
The announcement of Task Force Viper comes after a spate of shootings in the Melbourne area, which police believe are connected to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
But Mr Patton said the timing of the announcement was not linked, adding there had been a significant decline in non-fatal shootings in recent years.
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said Viper lacks real bite.
He accused the government of watering down laws targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and claimed it would lead to an increase in violence.
"Victoria Police are doing their best to ensure we stay safe but to now put 80 police officers in danger's way with these bikers running rampant across our state, is not only disrespectful to Victorians but disrespectful to those very police officers," he said.
