Wilson Pledges 200 PSOs for Melbourne Stations

0:00Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson, is promising 200 more protective service officers for Melbourne train stations if her party wins the state election in November. This comes amid rising violence on public transport, with crimes against people at stations jumping nearly 68% from 2021 to 2025. The pledge follows the fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Aiden Becker and burned a station just a month ago right before PSOs were set to start. Their evening shift, meanwhile, the current government has shifted 120 PSOs from quieter stations to shopping areas after incidents like a machete attack at, Northland, in May. Jess Wilson slammed the government for pulling PSOs without clear details on which stations lost coverage, saying the extra officers would let them. Patrol nearby streets too. Acting Premier Ben Carroll brushed it off as an old idea from 2010 when PSOs were first created under a liberal government.

1:01Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt backed the plan, noting communities missed the safety PSOs brought to stations and that Victoria Police faces a, shortfall of over 1,500 officers. He said more PSOs arrest thousands yearly and could help cover more ground as the train network grows. With the election heating up, both sides are under pressure to tackle public safety, but the government says it will stick to data-driven placements led. My police intel, leaving voters to decide if more boots on station platforms make the difference. I'm Corey with The Story. That's your Adelaide News today update, AI-powered and always on.