Article: Armed patrols to blitz our worst trams and trains

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Armed patrols to blitz our worst trams and trains

Armed patrols to blitz our worst trams and trains
Article from: Herald Sun

John Ferguson

December 02, 2008 12:00am

EXCLUSIVE: ARMED police will flood Melbourne's trains and trams in a public safety blitz.

At least $30 million will be spent on extra uniformed and undercover police after complaints that too many stations are unmanned and not enough is done to deal with high crime rates.

Police will decide where the 50 extra officers will go but troubled lines such as Hurstbridge, Frankston, Pakenham and Lilydale are certain to be included.

The extra transit police will be armed with guns and capsicum spray.

The Herald Sun believes the crackdown will be part of the Victorian transport plan, to be unveiled this month, and has solid backing from Premier John Brumby.

The Premier travelled on the train system to experience first-hand the challenges facing commuters.

The extra numbers will swell transit police ranks to 250.
There will also be a dramatic increase in the use of closed-circuit TV and improved lighting, as well as longer staffing of stations.

By the middle of next year, all CCTV cameras will be upgraded to digital and dozens of stations will be staffed from first train to last.

Police are expected to use the improved CCTV on Friday and Saturday nights, when revellers flood the city and alcohol-related offences soar.

But the crimes are not linked just to violence.

The Herald Sun revealed recently that transit crime was double that in NSW ? 9559 incidents to 4766.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky has signed off on the increased numbers as part of the multi-billion dollar transport package.

The transport plan will be one of dozens detailed by the Government with up to $20 billion worth of projects likely to be unveiled.

Key projects being considered include an east-west tunnel from Hoddle St, linking the Eastern Freeway with CityLink.