By Alesha Capone
WERRIBEE is the most dangerous out of all train stations in Wyndham and Hobsons Bay, according to crime figures from Victoria Police.
There were 113 crimes recorded at Werribee Railway Station this financial year, a large increase from the 63 offences reported in the previous 12 month period.
Statistics released to Star show there were more than 380 crimes committed between Werribee and Spotswood stations throughout 12 months.
The offences, which police record by postcode, have Altona Meadows, Laverton and Aircraft stations at the second-highest crime rate, with 93 crimes between them.
Next were Newport and Spotswood stations on 79 offences and Hoppers Crossing with 62 crimes, lower than its 2009-2010 figure of 74.
Altona, Seaholme and Westona stations recorded 21 crimes between them, with Williamstown and Williamstown North at 18 incidents.
The safest station on the line seemed to be Altona North, with no crimes reported.
Star requested to find out the types of crimes which occurred across the railway line but was told by Victoria Police “given the low number of incidents” reasons of privacy and confidentiality prevented this.
Wyndham Police Inspector Bill Weatherly said the crimes at stations were mainly thefts from cars, “a few assaults and a number of calls for youths causing trouble”.
“We have had several incidents at the railway stations where assaults have taken place, some of these are still being investigated, minor assaults mainly,” he said.
Tarneit MP Tim Pallas said he was disappointed the Liberal State Government has reneged on Labor’s promise to upgrade Hoppers Crossing to a premium station, staffed from first train to last.
“Not only is Hoppers Crossing a real issue, but Werribee is also now a significant issue as these figures show a substantial spike over 12 months,” Mr Pallas said.
The State Government has promised to allocate Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to all Metro stations by 2014, but police command said this would not include stations without public toilets.
Wyndham Transport Advisory Committee chairman Jim Giddings there were toilets at the Hoppers Crossing station “but they are locked most of the time and only open when a staff member is there for a couple of hours during the morning”.
“Hoppers Crossing unfortunately won’t be upgraded to a premium station, therefore toilets will not be available and hence PSOs would more than likely not be in attendance there, so commuters are again disadvantaged with a lack of safety provisions,” he said.
