High-crime shopping centres, train carriages and station platforms will feature an increased police presence as a state government looks to fight back against "unacceptable" crime levels ahead of a busy holiday season.

Protective service officers, or PSOs, will be deployed in numbers across greater Melbourne shopping centres in the lead-up to Christmas to patrol and prevent offences.

"Police are very determined to turn around and address the unacceptable levels of crime in the state of Victoria," Chief Commissioner Mike Bush told reporters on Saturday.

"We ... are very disturbed by the level of violence and dishonesty in our shopping centres and a more visible police presence will do a lot to prevent harm and crime in those areas.

"We will deploy into shopping centres, at least our top

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