The Victorian Opposition has pledged to add 200 Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to patrol train stations across Melbourne if it secures victory in the upcoming state election scheduled for November. This commitment follows the tragic stabbing of 22-year-old Aidan Becker at Mernda station, which has raised community concerns regarding safety.
In response to the Opposition’s announcement, the state government has characterized the proposal as an outdated initiative first introduced by the Liberal Party back in 2010. Opposition leader Jess Wilson highlighted alarming statistics from the Crime Statistics Agency, which indicate a 67.5 percent increase in “crimes against the person” at Victorian train stations between 2021 and 2025.
Since late last year, the government has reassigned 120 PSOs from lower-risk train stations to focus on shopping areas, a decision driven by several notable crime incidents, including a machete attack at Northland shopping centre in May 2025. Wilson emphasized the need to extend the responsibilities of PSOs, asserting that the additional personnel would enhance safety in surrounding neighborhoods.
“If I am elected premier this year, my top priority will be to ensure your safety,” Wilson stated, while also criticizing the government for failing to clarify which stations have lost their PSO presence.
The Opposition’s promise comes in the wake of the community’s shock from the violent incident involving Becker at Mernda station, which transpired just moments before PSOs were scheduled to begin their evening shift.
Acting Premier Ben Carroll dismissed the Opposition’s plan as a reiteration of ideas long ago proposed during Ted Baillieu’s tenure as Liberal premier. Carroll defended the government’s current strategy, asserting that PSOs are deployed based on data indicating higher crime rates and emphasizing the importance of an intelligence-led approach to their placement.
“The chief commissioner has been clear that PSOs should not be exclusively stationed at train stations but also deployed to shopping centres and other areas with significant antisocial behavior,” Carroll noted, opting not to commit to the Opposition’s proposal and stating that PSO placements would be determined in consultation with Victoria Police.
Wayne Gatt, secretary of the Police Association, expressed support for the Opposition’s initiative, citing community concerns regarding the withdrawal of PSOs from stations. He remarked that their presence previously provided a sense of security and positively impacted safety at train stations.
Gatt emphasized the necessity of increasing police numbers across the board, noting that the Victorian police force is currently short by 1,569 officers and that additional PSOs could help alleviate this gap. He argued for a commitment from both sides of the political spectrum to enhance police staffing significantly.
Given the expansion of train stations in Melbourne over the past decade, Gatt asserted that there is a clear need for more PSOs. These officers, who are armed and in uniform, possess the authority to apprehend, arrest, search, and issue fines within designated areas, including train stations and adjacent bus stops. However, they do not patrol V-Line stations.
