Anti-social behaviour the target of ramped-up security on Adelaide public transport
Beefed up security on Adelaide’s bus and rail services and upgrades to Broadmeadows and Albert Park stations as part of a $4 million safety and security initiative was announced this week.
The upgrades include better CCTV technology, improved lighting and more emergency call points.
“We are adding to our existing network of more than 1,000 CCTV cameras to combat crime across our public transport services, alongside the intelligence-based work of the Transit Police and DPTI safety officers,” South Australian (SA) transport and infrastructure minister Stephen Mullighan says.
“We have security guards on every train every night and on trams on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.”
There are now almost 100 transit police and more than 200 safety officers riding public transport services day and night in SA and they have been busy.
“Over the past 12 months Police Transit Branch Officers and DPTI Passenger Service Assistants have conducted special operations targeting fare evasion, graffiti and anti-social behaviour,” Mullighan says.
These operations utilise drug detection dogs and plain clothes officers, and can see entire stations locked down, giving offenders little chance to evade police.
“Operations will continue in 2016 because high visibility policing sends a clear message that anti-social behaviour and violence on our public transport network won’t be tolerated,” Mullighan says.
“We are committed to making our network as safe as possible, and we understand that feeling safe and secure is important to commuters and crucial to attracting more people to use public transport.”