Coronavirus Melbourne: PSOs, redeployed from railway stations to shopping centres across Melbourne
Police and PSOs will descend on shopping centres across Melbourne’s east after passenger numbers on the train network were slashed by 90 per cent thanks to coronavirus. Find out if your station is affected.
East
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PSOs are being pulled from railway stations to beef-up police numbers patrolling shopping centres and retail precincts.
This means more than 20 railway station in the eastern suburbs are not being patrolled at night.
The move comes as passenger numbers on Melbourne’s public transport network drop by up to 90 per cent due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Officers and PSOs will instead conduct foot patrols in and around major commercial centres including Box Hill, The Glen, Westfield Doncaster and Prahran’s Chapel St precinct.
All up, Victoria Police is redeploying 160 PSOs and 80 police officers who will patrol commercial retail precincts.
The daily patrols will be conducted from early afternoon into the morning and both officers and PSOs can make arrests and fine those not adhering to directions — up to$1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses.
Deputy commissioner Shane Patton said the redeployment would ensure essential workers felt safe when they are going to and from work or buying supplies.
“Victoria Police is constantly reviewing its plans to ensure resources are deployed to the right place at the right time to best support the community,” he said.
“However, given public transport patronage is down up to 90 per cent, it is important we redeploy our PSOs during this state of emergency so we can deter crime and provide public reassurance in key retail precincts.”
Mr Patton said PSOs would still be based at 83 of Melbourne’s busiest railway stations.
He said 25 mobile patrol units would also monitor stations which were not permanently staffed.
Metro Trains spokesman Andrew Nelson said the operator had more than 1100 staff at stations and more than 350 authorised officers patrolling the network to keep passengers safe.
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Mr Nelson said Metro also had more than 9000 CCTV cameras on stations and trains which were monitored in real time.
He urged passengers still using the network to speak to staff or use a red emergency button in trains or on platforms for assistance.
THE STATIONS WHICH WILL BE WITHOUT PSOS IN MELBOURNE’S EAST FROM THURSDAY:
BELGRAVE/LILYDALE LINE
Upwey
Tecoma
Ringwood East
Heathmont
Heatherdale
Laburnum
Mont Albert
Chatham
Canterbury
East Camberwell
Auburn
Hawthorn
ALAMEIN LINE
Burwood
Hartwell
Willison
Riversdale
GLEN WAVERLEY LINE
Syndal
Jordanville
Holmesglen
Glen Iris
Gardiner
Taronga
Kooyong
Heyington