Safer trains, buses and ferries: police to take over security on public transport
The NSW Police Force will take over security for the entire public transport network under a new dedicated Police Transport Command, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, Minister for Police Michael Gallacher, Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian and Commissioner of Police Andrew Scipione announced today.
The new command will see 610 dedicated police officers allocated to patrol trains, buses and ferries. Transit officers will focus on detecting fare evasion and minor compliance offences and their patrols will be expanded to cover buses and ferries.
"The NSW Government is getting on with the job of making our community safer and improving security on public transport is a key plank of that task," Mr O'Farrell said.
"As I travel on public transport and speak with commuters, safety is one of the main concerns, particularly at night," he said.
"There is nothing more reassuring than a high visibility, high profile police presence on trains, buses and ferries."
Mr Gallacher said the NSW Government is committed to improving safety and security as well as driving down crime on the public transport network.
"Police will be responsible for safety and security on our trains, buses and ferries to reduce crime," Mr Gallacher said.
"Police are trained to patrol in pairs, rather than transit officers who are routinely deployed in groups of three to five for safety reasons. Providing a strong police presence is the best way to prevent crime.
"Improving safety and security requires a fundamentally different approach, and a well-led dedicated police command with the full complement of police powers will increase our ability to combat crime on the public transport network.
"The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is determined to give police the powers, the resources and the backing they need to keep our community safe, and that includes protecting public transport passengers." Mr Gallacher said.
Ms Berejiklian said commuters wanted a strong police presence on the transport network as it was the best deterrent against crime.
"We are committed to making our public transport network as safe as possible," she said.
"We understand that feeling safe and secure is important to our customers, and that it is crucial to attracting more people to use public transport.
"Just as a police car on our roads puts drivers on their best behaviour, police officers patrolling our public transport network will serve as a deterrent against crime.
"While police will take the lead, transit officers will have their roles expanded to focus on fare evasion on buses and ferries as well as trains.
"Having police take over security and increase their presence on the public transport network is a win for customers," Ms Berejiklian said.
Existing transit officers and STA revenue protection officers can either apply to be trained as a police officer, apply to be retained as a transit officer, apply for voluntary redundancy or apply for redeployment.
Commissioner Scipione said the new police command will be created to bolster the state's public transport network.
"The creation of the Police Transport Command will allow police to work more closely with the community to target those areas within our transport system where anti-social and criminal behaviour occurs," Commissioner Scipione said.
"We are focused on completing the recruitment processes by the end of 2014 when the PTC's ranks will have grown to more than 600 officers, while 300 existing police officers currently attached to the Commuter Crime Unit will be available immediately.
"The great value of this new command is that police officers will come into contact with people who may have committed other more serious crimes.
"It will enable the police to take into custody a lot of people wanted on other offences."
"Public transport, whether it's rail, buses or ferries, are well-known as crime corridors used by criminals to go to commit a crime or to return from a crime,"
Commissioner Scipione said.
Ms Berejiklian said the increased police presence will build on the existing security measures.
Across the rail network alone there are:
- 9,300 CCTV cameras targeting crime and commuters safety;
- 750 customer help points visible on CCTV which allow a person to communicate directly with CityRail staff, and
- 7,000 high intensity lights.
The NSW Government also created a $40 million Park and Travel Safety fund to further improve CCTV on station platforms, on trains and in car parks; improve lighting in and around train stations; and increase help point reliability.
MEDIA: Brad Burden or Cameron Hamilton 9228 5239 (Premier), Clint McGilvray 0413 285 186 (Minister Gallacher), Sam Fairlie-Cuninghame 0407 795 782 (Minister Berejiklian)
14 February 2012
