Opposition plans to deploy protective service officers for hospital security

PROTECTIVE Service Officers would provide security at hospitals and guard crime scenes in a massive expansion of their role should the opposition win next month’s state election.

PSOs would provide security at hospitals and guard crime scenes in an expansion of their role, should the Opposition win next month’s state election.

Protective Service Officers were put on the beat to guard railway stations in 2012.

But the Opposition believes they could be deployed to other areas in a move to free up police officers to fight crime.

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Protective Service Officers could see their roles expanded to provide security at hospitals. Picture: Ian Currie

The idea is backed by the Police Association of Victoria.

Opposition police spokesman Edward O’Donohue said the PSOs would not be used to guard emergency departments at hospitals but could be used to guard prisoners in hospitals.

“A Matthew Guy government will put the frontline first and get back in control of community safety,” he said.

Recently police had to guard a flight-risk prisoner in hospital for several months. During that time, divisional van shifts were cancelled.

Association secretary Wayne Gatt said such a duty could have been competently provided by PSOs.

“The plan to increase the scope of services provided by PSOs makes sense,” he said.

He said they could provide security of high-risk premises and crime scenes as well as custody management.