By NOEL MURPHY
PASSENGERS moved along nervously as a man brutally kicked and screamed profanities at his bike at North Geelong station at 6.45 last Thursday evening.
The behaviour is the sort that might be reduced, at least at Geelong station, with the deployment of protective services officers by the State Government this week.
But commuters might care to watch their step as well. Police Minister Kim Wells, along with local MPs and Liberal candidates, were out in force plugging the Geelong PSOs – but the officers, by the Government’s own admission, have issued 20,000 infringements at stations across rail network in the past two years.
“People who use trains have told us that they welcome the rollout of PSOs at rail stations,” South Barwon MP Andrew Katos said.
“Their presence helps to reduce crime on our rail stations and also increases perceptions of safety for Victorians who might otherwise avoid train travel at night.”
But PSOs working at train stations came under criticism last December for issuing fines without proper legal authority, leading to the withdrawal of more than 300 fines. PSOs have also come under fire for issuing hundreds of fines to disabled, mentally ill and homeless people for minor infringements.
A Facebook site, Your Rights on Track, has also been set up by the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Youth Law and the Mental Health Legal Centre to advise people on their rights when dealing with PSOs.
The Government has 700 PSOs across 114 stations, patrolling from 6pm until after the last train at night. It plans to recruit and deploy 940 PSOs to suburban rail stations and regional centres by November.
PSO duties include patrolling train platforms, car parks and surrounds to prevent property damage, and alcohol and transport-related crime.
Police Minister Wells said the Geelong PSO presence was a “major investment in community safety for Geelong”. He did not say how many PSOs would operate at Geelong or if any would be deployed to North Geelong.
