The New South Wales Government is in the process of recruiting 65 more Transport Officers
Recruitment is now underway for 65 additional Transport Officers to boost the number of officers checking tickets on public transport in New South Wales.
The new recruits will join 150 Transport Officers who already work alongside the Police Transport Command, and will bring the total number of Transport Officers in the state to 215.
Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian says the State Government’s strategy to reduce fare evasion is proving a success.
More than 111,000 fines have been issued since Transport Officers started in May 2013.
“Transport Officers work closely with the Police Transport Command, who in addition have issued more than 100,000 infringements on the transport network for offences including fare evasion,” she says.
“Fare evasion costs taxpayers millions of dollars a year, and while the majority of customers do the right thing, it’s frustrating when others don’t pay their way.”
The boost in numbers means Transport Officers will be able target Sydney hot spots and outer suburban areas, including Wollongong, the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast.
Transport Officers now have new technology to help them tackle fare evasion more effectively.
“Transport Officers are now equipped with a handheld smart device which automatically sends infringement notices in the post, meaning less time on administration and more time helping customers and reducing fare evasion,” says Berejiklian.
“Transport Officers also use hand-held Opal readers to scan customers’ Opal cards and ensure people have tapped on correctly – another important way we’re tackling fare evasion.”
The NSW Government has also introduced an initiative to turn off concession sales at ticket machines at selected stations, ensuring customers need to show proof of entitlement.
A recruitment campaign for the new Transport Officers is now underway, training for the additional officers will start in January and the first of the new officers will be on the job by April 2015.