PSOs to begin patrols at Springvale station

Keeping watch: There have been almost 1400 arrests since PSOs were first deployed more than 12 months ago at stations including Dandenong. Officers Pierre Devienne and Ben Huismann were among the first to be deployed. Picture: Rob Carew

PROTECTIVE Services Officers will be guarding Springvale railway station from tomorrow night.

Police Minister Kim Wells said the armed officers, which will be introduced to Springvale, Montmorency, Chelsea and Bayswater from 6pm tomorrow, will be among 344 patrolling 42 stations.

He said there had been almost 1400 arrests by police due to the work of PSOs first deployed more than 12 months ago at stations such as Dandenong and Noble Park.

“More than 500 people have been apprehended with outstanding warrants, more than 700 for drunkenness and 64 who were breaching their bail conditions.”

Mr Wells said commuters and small businesses that were surveyed said they felt safer at stations after PSOs were introduced.

He said the government was still committed to recruiting and deploying 940 PSOs by November 2014.