New Laws Make Public Transport Safer for Travellers
Travelling on public transport at night will become safer with new laws introduced to give 940 Protective Services Officers the powers they need to reduce crime, violence and anti-social behaviour in and around train stations.
Protective Services Officers will undertake the same Operational Tactics and Safety Training as police, including the same defensive skills and firearms training. Once trained, they will have the power to apprehend, detain, arrest, remove or impede any offenders or threatening individuals.
The plan is for the officers to be present at all metropolitan and major regional train stations from 6pm until the last train, every day of the year.
Deputy Premier and Police Minister Peter Ryan said Victoria Police is proposing to extend the training of the Protective Services Officers from the existing nine-week program to 12 weeks.
“The extended 12 week training program will include ‘on the job’ training at inner city rail stations to strengthen the skills of Protective Services Officers,” Mr Ryan said.
He said the deployment of the new officers would be determined by Police Command in consultation with the Department of Justice, the Department of Transport and the Victorian Government.
A recruitment drive to attract people to fill the new positions will begin following passage of the bill through Parliament.