PSOs deployed to Elsternwick station
Monday 21 October 2013
Elsternwick commuters will be safer every night of the week with the deployment of Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to the railway station.
Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services and Member for Caulfield David Southwick hosted Minister for Police and Emergency Services Kim Wells at Elsternwick Station where PSOs were undertaking induction.
Mr Southwick said the Victorian Coalition Government was delivering on its commitment to introduce PSOs to all metropolitan stations and major regional centres to protect commuters from crime, violence and anti-social behaviour.
“PSOs are making a difference to public safety and people who use Elsternwick, will benefit from their presence,” Mr Southwick said.
“There are now 488 PSOs deployed to 79 stations from 6pm until after the last train every night of the week.”
The PSOs will commence work at Elsternwick railway station at 6pm tomorrow, Tuesday 22 October 2013.
Mr Southwick said the PSOs would patrol the train platform, car parks and surrounds to prevent anti-social behaviour, property damage, as well as alcohol-related crime.
“People who use trains in Caulfield have told me that they welcome the presence of PSOs at train stations. They make people feel safe when travelling at night.”
PSOs have issued more than 12,000 infringement notices for a wide range of offences, including being drunk in a public place, possessing alcohol, graffiti and weapons.
Mr Southwick said the Victorian Coalition Government had committed to recruiting and deploying 940 PSOs to the rail network as part of a $212 million investment.
“As well as rolling out 940 PSOs, an additional 1,700 frontline police officers are being recruited, and this is the largest single law enforcement recruitment exercise in Victoria’s history,” Mr Southwick said.
Recruitment has far outstripped expectations and more than half the Coalition Government’s total commitment of 940 Protective Service Officers have now graduated from the Victoria Police Academy.
Twenty-six squads of PSOs have now graduated from the police training academy.
“I urge anybody who is considering a career as a PSO to visit the Victoria Police website and register for an information session,” Mr Southwick said.
