PROTECTIVE Services Officers began their nightly patrols at Upper Ferntree Gully Railway Station last Tuesday.
Upper Ferntree Gully was among five stations including Fawkner, Jewell, Hampton and Traralgon, that received PSOs last week.
The PSOs will patrol the Upper Ferntree Gully station from 6pm to the last train each night.
Liberal candidate for Monbulk Mark Verschuur joined Eastern Victoria Region MP Andrew Ronalds at the new PSOs’ induction.
“PSOs are helping to prevent anti-social behaviour, property damage, violence and alcohol and transport-related crime on our rail network,” Mr Verschuur said.
“Just as commuters using the 142 rail stations now with a PSO presence feel safer, those who use Upper Ferntree Gully station will also feel safer.”
Mr Ronalds said Victoria had 864 PSOs patrolling 142 stations and the $863 million investment in police and PSOs was the largest law and order recruitment exercise in the state’s history.
“The government is on track to reach its target of delivering above the original commitment of 940 PSOs at 216 rail stations across Victoria,” Mr Ronalds said.
“An independent survey of train passengers shows the presence of PSOs makes them feel safer at rail stations.
“Night-time train users gave PSOs almost universal approval, with 94 per cent agreeing PSOs are a good idea and 93 per cent stating they would seek their help if they felt unsafe.”
PSOs have issued more than 29,000 infringement notices since their introduction in February 2012.
More than 1700 of those infringements were for being drunk in a public place or being drunk and disorderly, 3500 were ticketing offences and more than 22,000 were transport offences.
