Victoria Deputy Premier Peter Ryan

Victoria Minister for Police Peter Ryan

PSOs Legislation Clears Path For Safer Train Stations

Victor P Taffa

Victorian commuters will soon have safer train stations after new Protective Services Officers (PSOs) laws passed through the Upper House of Parliament overnight.

Deputy Premier and Police Minister Peter Ryan said the new laws delivered on the Coalition Government’s election promise to deploy 940 PSOs at every metropolitan train station and at major regional centres from 6pm until the last train.

“Under the Justice Legislation Amendment (Protective Services Officers) Bill 2011, PSOs will have the additional powers needed to reduce crime, violence and anti-social behaviour at and around train stations.” Mr. Ryan said.

The new legislation includes giving PSOs the power to:

• Arrest people found to be drunk and disorderly;

• ‘Move On’ powers for those who are loitering;

• Detain a person who is believed to have committed a serious offence or where there is reasonable grounds that such a person is likely to endanger the safety of others;  

• Conduct searches where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting a person has a weapon.

“The Coalition Government promised to make Victoria safer and the passage of this legislation will improve safety on the public transport network.” Mr. Ryan said.

Mr. Ryan said the current PSO training program would be extended from nine weeks to 12 weeks to incorporate the new PSO powers.

“PSOs will not have all the powers that police officers have but they will be able to apprehend, detain, remove or impede offenders or threatening individuals.” Mr. Ryan said.

“As part of their 12 week training program, all PSO recruits will undergo the same two weeks Operational Tactics and Safety Training as police and PSOs will be required to ‘re-qualify’ every six months.”

Mr. Ryan said the deployment of PSOs would be determined by the Police Command in consultation with the Department of Justice, the Department of Transport and the Government.

“Victoria Police will take into consideration its operational requirements and, in consultation with relevant authorities, deploy 940 PSOs to every metropolitan railway station and in major regional centres by November 2014 in line with the Coalition Government’s election commitment.” Mr. Ryan said.

Mr. Ryan said the Coalition Government was also resourcing Victoria Police to recruit and train an additional 1,700 new police to reduce violence, crime and anti-social behaviour around the state.

“The Coalition Government is getting on with the job of protecting local communities and reversing 11 years of neglect under the former Labor Government.” Mr. Ryan said.

“This PSO policy has been strongly supported by Victorian families to reduce the ugly blight of violence on train stations, particularly at night.”

A Victoria Police recruiting drive to attract people to fill the 940 PSO positions will begin shortly.