PSOs deployed to Dandenong Rail Station
Protective Services Officers (PSOs) will be deployed to Dandenong Station after the graduation of a further 13 officers from the Victoria Police Academy, Premier Ted Baillieu announced today.
"This group of graduates brings the number of PSOs tackling crime at our rail stations to 49 and extends the deployment of officers outside of the Melbourne CBD," Mr Baillieu said.
In addition to Dandenong, PSOs are now stationed at Southern Cross, Flinders Street and Footscray stations.
"The Coalition Government is delivering on its election commitment to tackle crime, violence and anti-social behaviour on and around train stations," Mr Baillieu said.
"PSOs will be deployed across the rail network where they will patrol train stations from 6pm until the last train, every night of the week.
"The PSOs who will begin work at Dandenong Station have completed on-the-job training at Southern Cross and Flinders Street under the supervision of Victorian Transit Police.
"We are extremely pleased with the feedback we are receiving from commuters and businesses at the stations where PSOs have already been deployed, which confirms that the PSOs are putting into practice what the government intended – addressing crime and perceptions of crime at rail stations," Mr Baillieu said.
While on duty at train stations, PSOs have the power to apprehend, detain, arrest and remove any offenders or threatening individuals.
"Many more squads of PSOs will continue to come through the Academy for 12 weeks of intensive training, including the same operational tactics and safety training that police officers undertake," Mr Baillieu said.
Protective Services Officers already play a key role within Victoria Police in areas outside rail stations, including providing protection at Parliament and the courts, and receive the same operational tactics and safety training as police.
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