PSOs start earlier and expand patrols across Victoria’s rail network

Protective Services Officers will begin earlier shifts, expand patrol areas and move more frequently across Victoria’s public transport network under a revised deployment model backed by fresh funding and police intelligence.

From tomorrow, Victoria Police will roll out an intelligence-led approach that places PSOs at stations and on trains based on current crime data. The change shifts the role away from largely static platform duties towards mobile patrols that extend across stations, surrounding areas and train services.

Under the updated model, officers will start as early as 9am at selected locations, replacing the long-standing 6pm start at many stations. Authorities say this reflects changes in when and where offences are occurring, with police advising that earlier visibility can help deter incidents before evening peaks.

The plan outlines coverage across dozens of stations throughout the day. PSOs will patrol 32 metropolitan stations from morning through to the last service, while a larger group of 73 metro stations and four regional locations will be covered from late afternoon onwards. In addition, mobile patrols will operate across 119 metropolitan stations during evening hours, with officers moving continuously rather than remaining in fixed positions.

Victoria Police says the approach is designed to ensure no station or train goes unpatrolled while PSOs are on duty. The shift towards mobility is expected to increase visibility across a broader section of the network, while allowing officers to respond more flexibly to emerging issues.

The changes are supported by a $44 million allocation in the state budget to recruit 50 additional PSOs. The extra personnel are intended to strengthen frontline coverage and support the expanded patrol model, particularly during high-demand periods.

Officials argue that the overhaul reflects evolving patterns in public transport safety. Fourteen years after PSOs were first introduced, police data indicates that incidents are no longer concentrated solely around late-night periods or specific station platforms. As a result, redeploying officers to trains and surrounding precincts, as well as adjusting shift times, has been presented as a practical response.

Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said the updated model would place officers where they are most effective, guided by real-time intelligence. He added that no station would lose PSO presence, with the key change being how officers are deployed rather than whether they are present.

The government has framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to maintain a visible policing presence across the transport system. Victoria already has the country’s largest police force, and the additional PSOs are positioned as a further expansion of frontline resources.

While the strategy has been designed within Victoria Police, its success will likely be judged on outcomes such as incident rates and commuter confidence over time. Public transport users may notice a more active presence across platforms, trains and station surrounds, particularly during daytime hours when PSOs have previously been less visible.

Details on specific deployment times and locations have been made available through Victoria Police channels, with authorities encouraging passengers to familiarise themselves with the updated coverage.

The rollout begins immediately, marking a shift in how public transport safety is managed across the state, with a stronger emphasis on mobility, timing and data-led decision making.