Protective services officers will be given new authority to target anti-social behaviour and crime, under legislation to be introduced into state parliament this week.
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The new powers include the ability to arrest a person who has breached their parole, conduct searches for illicit drugs and request names and addresses from people who witness crime as well as respond to incidents in and around train stations.
The legislation forms part the government’s $2 billion community safety package, which includes funding for an additional 100 mobile PSOs to be rolled out across the public transport network.
The new mobile teams are part of a bid to increase the overall flexibility of PSOs to ensure safety for commuters during peak periods, including major events which take place outside of normal PSO hours of duty.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the measures would ensure PSOs had appropriate powers, were in the right places and worked at the right times to respond to crime.
“We are boosting PSO powers so they can ensure Victorians feel safe travelling on public transport,” she said.
“We are doing everything we can to make Victorians safer as they go about their lives.”
