By Xavier Smerdon
HOPPERS Crossing and Werribee train stations will be monitored by armed police-trained protective service officers every day from 6pm until the last train.
The State Government has confirmed to Star the officers will begin patrolling the stations by the end of this year.
But a spokesperson for Transport Minister Terry Mulder told Star the Baillieu Government had rejected the former Labor Government’s promise to staff Hoppers Crossing station from the first to the last train every day.
According to the spokesperson, the Government believes by providing Protective Service Officers (PSO) instead of Metro Trains staff, the stations would be safer.
“What this Government is doing is making stations safer,” the spokesperson said.
“Instead of getting staff, who will be behind glass and can’t really help you if you’re in trouble, they will be getting protective service officers.
“That is a much safer way of protecting people.”
But Jim Giddings, Chairman of the Wyndham Transport Advisory Committee, said PSO’s would not provide the same level of service that staffing would.
“Staff members provide a wide range of services to commuters,” Mr Giddings said.
“The PSO’s role will not be there to assist commuters.
“If a disabled person needs assistant, then it’s not their role to help them.”
Mr Giddings said the government continued to make poor decisions when it came to the public transport needs of Wyndham.
“It’ putting public transport back 20 years by making these ill-informed, ad hoc decisions,” he said.
Every single metropolitan station will receive PSO’s by the end of this year, according to the government spokesperson.
Despite only being at the station from 6pm onwards, the spokesperson said that the PSO’s would make people feel safer.
“I think people will feel a lot safer,” the spokesperson said.
“Especially women because they (PSOs) can escort you to your car if you want.”
