Protective Services Officers (PSOs) can now be deployed to shopping centres, sporting precincts and other highly populated areas to help prevent crime and support community safety, under new laws passed by the State Parliament
Announced by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Lisa Neville, the new laws expand the role of PSOs so they can be deployed when and where needed.
“The new laws will allow the Chief Commissioner to declare areas such as shopping centres, malls and other crowded areas to be ‘designated places’, as well as in the event of an emergency, in addition to maintaining their role on the public transport network,” Ms Neville said.
“This will allow PSOs to support police in places beyond the transport network where a highly visible police presence can help prevent crime and provide reassurance to the public,” she said.
“We’ve seen the vital role PSOs play during the Coronavirus pandemic as part of Operation Shielding, and we’ll continue to give Victoria Police the powers, tools and resources they need to keep Victorians safe.”
Ms Neville said the new laws also gave the Chief Commissioner power to deploy PSOs right across Victoria during disasters or emergencies, to support police to maintain public order in the event of incidents like fires and floods.
“Under the reforms, Sheriff’s officers will trial serving family violence intervention order applications for 12 months in two locations, with officers to receive additional training to support them in this role,” she said.
“This will support police to focus on family violence victims and holding perpetrators to account, while also delivering on one of the key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence,” Ms Neville said.
