Travelling on public transport is one of the safest ways to travel. Victoria Police work closely with Transport Victoria(opens in a new window) and public transport operators to help make your journey an even safer one.
There are staff and many safety features across the train, tram and bus networks – all working together to keep you safe.
Protective services officers (PSOs) and public transport
PSOs are deployed across Victoria’s public transport network. Flexible, intelligence‑led PSO deployments respond to emerging risks and priority locations.
They are there to provide a visible safety presence on and around train stations, and to prevent and manage:
- anti-social behaviour
- crimes against the person (including assaults and robberies)
- weapon offences, and,
- property damage.
PSO deployment aims to reduce serious and violent crime, and enhance community safety across our public transport system.
You can approach a PSO anytime you have a question or feel unsafe.
What PSOs can request from you
A Victoria Police PSO can:
- request your name and address
- arrest and detain you
- search you and your property
- issue infringement notices, and,
- issue a direction to 'move on' from the area
- seize items such as:
- weapons
- graffiti implements
- drugs, and/or,
- alcohol.
PSOs are supported by Victoria Police officers.
Where PSOs are deployed
Our PSOs are onsite at train stations and their surrounds, trains, trams and major bus interchanges across Victoria, working to keep you safe.
You’ll find PSOs stationed across 105 metropolitan railway stations, and four regional railway stations. These regional stations are Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, and Traralgon.
PSOs conduct roving patrols at a further 119 metropolitan railway stations from approximately 5pm to the last train.
Types of PSO public transport deployment
Victoria’s train stations are split into categories to determine when and where our PSOs are needed the most.
Station categories
Station categories are determined by a factors such as the number of regular commuters, and distance to other services such as shops and restaurants:
- Category 1 stations - Static PSO patrols daily from approximately 9am until the last scheduled service.
- Category 2 stations - Static PSO patrols daily from approximately 5pm until the last scheduled service.
- Category 3 stations - Roving PSO patrols daily from approximately 5pm until the last scheduled service.
Roving and static PSO patrols
Each station will have static or roving PSO deployment during different times of the day:
- Static PSO deployment - PSOs deployed to a single railway station where they patrol the station and surrounding areas, such as the station’s car park or nearby bus/tram stops.
- Roving PSO deployment - PSOs patrol multiple railway stations and their surrounding areas, such as the station’s car park or nearby bus/tram stops and ride the train between the railway stations.
Melbourne’s Night Network services
Static PSO patrols on Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm to 6am. These PSOs are deployed at 50 railway stations during the operation of Melbourne’s Night Network services.
Find a PSO at a railway station near you
As of Sunday 19 April 2026, protective services officers have been deployed across Victoria’s rail network. This Active Deployment Model provides a visible safety presence on and around train stations for the community.
Travel safety tips
There are things you can do to keep safe while waiting for or boarding a train, bus or tram, and while you are in transit:
- Plan your journey before you travel.
- Keep your belongings where you can physically see and touch them.
- Put your phone or wallet in your front pocket.
- Be aware of your surroundings and of who is around you.
Transit Safety Division
Under the Transit Safety Division, our PSOs are supported by Victoria Police officers.
We have 450 police officers that contribute to passenger safety. They provide mobile response to the public, and investigate crime.
They also conduct targeted patrols, while our detectives investigate crimes against the person and property offences.
How to report a crime on public transport
If the incident is happening now, the suspect is still on scene or if anyone is injured or in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
We encourage you to report any incidents which may have occurred on the public transport network. Speak to police officers or PSOs at the station, or on-board public transport at the time.
Make a report if you:
- witness or experience an offence or crime
- witness or experience harmful behaviour
- feel unsafe at any time.
If the matter is non-urgent, report through our Online Reporting service or by calling the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers online or by calling 1800 333 000.
To report unwanted sexual behaviour or anti-social behaviour or learn about STOPIT text notifications, visit our unwanted sexual behaviour or anti-social behaviour page.
Help identify an offender
You can help identify offenders for public transport specific offences by visiting Crime Stoppers Wanted(opens in a new window).
Unwanted sexual and anti-social behaviour on public transport
Report bad behaviour on PT
Text STOPIT to 0499 455 455 to report or notify us of unwanted sexual behaviour and anti-social behaviour on public transport.
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