A woman accused of randomly stabbing a worker walking along busy Melbourne city street has been charged, as the Victorian Premier slammed the “sickening” act.

Wan Lai, from West Melbourne, was on her way to work in the CBD at 7.40am on October 2 when the alleged offender ran up from behind and stabbed her in the upper body in an apparent random attack.

CCTV footage shows the woman, wearing all black, then running off as Lai crouches over on the street before a bystander comes up to help.

Lai, 36, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been discharged.

Victoria Police arrested and charged a 32-year-old Melbourne woman with two counts of intentionally causing injury and committing an offence while on bail. Officers who conducted an extensive search of the area also seized a knife.

The accused appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody.

The attack has added to a raft of high-profile crimes in Victoria, which recorded a near-16 per cent jump in criminal offences in the 12 months to June 30, according to crime statistics data.

Premier Jacinta Allan has condemned the act of violence as “absolutely sickening”, sending her support to Lai and her family.

“No one who commits brazen, violent acts like this should be on the streets,” she said.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the city remained safe and spruiked his policy of more CCTV cameras and new community safety officers.

“By any international comparison, Melbourne is a very safe city, but we have seen a rise in the crime rate that is undeniable,” he told ABC radio Melbourne.

State Opposition Leader Brad Battin said Victoria was the nation’s “crime capital”, a term his federal counterpart Sussan Ley used during her recent visit to the state to shine a spotlight on the issue.

“Everyone’s talking about it, no matter where you go in the community … People are starting to fear that this is generally what Victoria is becoming, particularly in Melbourne,” he said.

“There’s no one in the country that’s close to us. Victoria stands alone.”

–AAP