The Allan government has been slammed for playing “Russian roulette with public safety” after Victoria Police refused to identify which train stations will lose permanent protective services officers.
Expected Changes to Train Station Patrols
Under the new 2026 deployment strategy, the current guarantee of PSOs at every metropolitan station from 6:00 PM to the last train will change as follows:
- 32 “High-Risk” Stations: Will receive an expanded day-and-night PSO presence.
- 72 “Lower-Crime” Stations: Will maintain a permanent nightly presence from 6:00 PM.
- 120 “Low-Crime” Stations: Will lose permanent static patrols. These stations will instead be monitored by roving teams of PSOs who will cover clusters of six stations each.
Current Status and Delays
- Publication Delay: While the changes were originally slated for earlier implementation, the specific list of affected stations is now expected to be released in April 2026.
- Shopping Centre Expansion: Concurrent with the station reductions, the government has invested $6.5 million to extend the trial of PSOs patrolling major shopping centres (such as Northland, Eastland, and Highpoint) until the end of 2026.
- Government Stance: The government maintains that no final decisions on the exact station-by-station model have been finalised, and deployment remains a decision for Victoria Police based on intelligence.
