Safety goes off the rails

Station security wound back

PROTECTIVE services officers may not be at Geelong railway station every night, the state opposition says.

It follows the government’s move to vote against a request to guarantee two PSOs be stationed at some regional stations, including Geelong, and all metropolitan train stations from 6pm to the last service every day.

The Liberal Party’s request was shot down in parliament last week.

Opposition Police and Community Safety spokesman David Southwick said offences committed on and around Geelong train stations were up more than 74 per cent during the past five years.

Mr Southwick said Victorians did not want to see the “successful” PSO program eroded as they were moved to watch over other public spaces and complete COVID-19-related tasks.

“The role of PSOs can and should grow beyond train platforms, but any redeployment must be in addition to, not at the expense of, their core duties on the public transport network,” Mr Southwick said.

“(Premier) Daniel Andrews has again put community safety last, and his new laws make it a lucky dip for commuters as to whether they have a PSO presence at their local Geelong station of a night.”

A government spokeswoman did not confirm if two PSOs would be deployed to Geelong station every night.

“These new laws … mean the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police can deploy PSOs more flexibly to where and when they’re needed most, while continuing to maintain their presence on the public transport network,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our changes were developed in consultation with Victoria Police and supported by the Police Association.

“The changes will allow PSOs to be deployed to places like shopping centres and major sporting events, which the Opposition supports, to keep more Victorians safe.

“The Liberal amendments would have undermined the operational independence of Victoria Police. They were a vote of no-confidence in the PSO workforce and were rightly defeated.”

PSOs are currently being used to assist police with compliance checks of the Chief Health Officer’s directives.