Acting Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan today welcomed the additional safety that newly-deployed Victoria Police Protective Services Officers (PSOs) will provide commuters travelling Melbourne’s metropolitan rail network.
“Our first squad of 18 PSO graduates from the Victoria Police Academy will undertake their first shift tonight at Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment to delivering 940 PSOs to make travelling on our trains safer after dark,” Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan said Victoria Police Command had made the operational decision to deploy the first PSOs to Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations, followed by Richmond, North Melbourne and Footscray stations in coming weeks.
“This first deployment of PSOs is a significant milestone, ensuring there is added security to stamp out crime, violence and anti-social behaviour at two of Melbourne’s busiest train stations,” Mr Ryan said.
“These 18 officers will provide additional security at platforms from 6pm until last train every night, and while they are on duty they will have the power to apprehend, detain, arrest and remove any offenders or people threatening to commit offences.”
Mr Ryan said the officers would initially work under the direct supervision of transit police as part of their on-the-job training.
“Having completed the rigorous 12-week training course at the Victoria Police Academy, PSOs will now get valuable on-the-job training under the supervision of highly-experienced police officers from Victoria Police’s Transit Safety Division,” Mr Ryan said.
“These PSO recruits have gone through the same operational tactics and safety training as police, including the same firearms and defensive skills training.”
Mr Ryan said Victoria Police was in the process of recruiting 940 PSOs and 1,700 police officers by November 2014 as part of the Coalition Government’s commitment to improve safety on the streets and at railway stations across Victoria.
“The Coalition Government is providing the necessary funding to boost frontline police services to make Victoria safer,” Mr Ryan said.
Media contact: Sonia Heath 0413 485 526
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