People are being removed from life-threatening situations in Brisbane’s CBD with free public transport vouchers, according to Translink
June 21, 2012
More than 100 people have
escaped life-threatening situations in Brisbane’s CBD since
2010 with police-issued public transport vouchers.
In a statement this week, Translink says the program,
conducted in partnership with Queensland Police and Queensland Rail, has removed almost 200 people caught in the CBD late at night.
Queensland Police Inspector Peter Aitken says the free-travel initiative is a positive way to get endangered people off the streets.
“By offering free travel vouchers to vulnerable persons, we are able to change the tone of the conversation as officers are offering a solution rather than merely issuing a direction,” Aitken says.
“In the past, directions for people stuck in the City to move-on may have been futile if the person did not have the means to get themselves to a place of safety, now though, officers can divert people from trouble and prevent a multitude of possible problems.”
Aitken says in the
CBD stranded, vulnerable
people can be at greater risk of
becoming victims of crime.
“…giving them the chance to get themselves home safely has proven a very practical alternative,” he says.
Queensland Police have issued 188 vouchers since the initiative was launched in November 2010.
“Since the initiative was launched we’ve been getting positive feedback from the community and our officers,” Aitken says.