By VANESSA VALENZUELA
PROTECTIVE Service Officers will arrive in Brimbank next month.
Acting Inspector Chris Gilbert told Star the first deployment of PSOs will be deployed in the municipality on Monday 5 November.
He said after a local induction, the officers are expected to begin patrolling Watergardens Train Station by Melbourne Cup Day.
“This is a welcome addition to our safety strategy for Brimbank and their arrival is the beginning of a more comprehensive focus on safety around our public transport hubs,” Act Insp Gilbert said.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed that Watergardens station was next in line to receive PSOs but did not comment on the exact number of officers being deployed and whether PSOs would also arrive at other stations along the Sydenham line.
The PSOs will patrol Watergardens station each night from 6 pm until the final train.
The announcement has been welcomed by local community groups in the area, who believe the new officers will make commuters feel safer when using the rail network at night.
Delahey Action Group secretary David Anderson said the new PSOs would help improve the general public perception of safety to commuters but named other stations where there services are required.
“There is a need for at least the major stations, including Watergardens, St Albans and Sunshine, to be showing a degree of law and order,” Mr Anderson said.
“This will be a deterrent to people who engage in anti-social behaviour.”
Keilor Residents and Ratepayers Association President Susan Jennison said the arrival of the PSOs would encourage Brimbank residents to use the train.
“I think it’s just wonderful for residents to have a reassurance that there is a security force who they can feel will safeguard their interested when they want to travel,” Ms Jennison said.
“It affects all the people in the area and there are so many people coming from different regions feeding into the station.”
PSOs are already in place at Footscray, Yarraville, Laverton, Newport, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee stations.
Officers will deployed to every metropolitan station and major regional centres by November 2014.
There are currently 166 PSOs working at 22 train stations across the rail network.
