By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S train stations are not as unsafe as they may seem, according to the police officer in charge of the Werribee line.
Last week Acting Senior Sergeant Arthur Secoulidis along with other transit safety police patrolled the Werribee train station in a bid to improve commuter’s feelings that the station is unsafe.
Last week Star revealed that only 14 per cent of people felt safe at Wyndham’s stations at night time, making the municipality the worst performer in Victoria.
Acting Sen Sgt Secoulidis said he did not believe Wyndham’s train stations were the most dangerous in the state, but said he could understand why some people might think that they are.
“We know that there can be groups of young people who sometimes hang out in this area as a bit of a public loungeroom,” Acting Sen Sgt Secoulidis said.
“A lot of the issues of safety are caused by young people, but perception of crime and crime are two very different things.”
Last week the Acting Sen Sgt Secoulidis held one of his regular meetings with the Station Masters from the Werribee and Newport stations to discuss what issues they were having.
Werribee’s Station Master, Gary Duddridge, said the station’s main issues came back to youths again.
“The main things at night are drunken youths loitering and sometimes smashing the windows of the bus stops,” Mr Duddridge told Star.
“We also get people begging and often begging with an angle of intimidation.”
Acting Sen Sgt Secoulidis said police constantly monitored the line to address any safety issues.
“We are constantly monitoring crime data, as well as information from our public transport providers and the public to address any issues as soon as they arise,” he said.
“This information assists us in where we need to place our police and at what times.”
Anyone with information about public transport safety in Wyndham should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.