The State Government will be rolling out additional security measures across the public transport network to improve the safety of commuters, transport staff and the general public.
Expected to commence from 1 July 2019 subject to consultations, the initiatives represent the implementation of the next phase in the three-year Wilson Security contract signed by the former state government in 2017.
Phase 1 and 2 commenced in October 2017 and February 2018 respectively.
New safety measures in Phase 3 will include:
- Intelligence-based security resulting in a wider coverage using guards and patrols with greater flexibility to respond to incidents, including:
- An increase in roving guards from four to 16, able to move between trains, trams, buses, stations, stops and interchanges to provide a deterrence and to deal with serious incidents where needed;
- An increase to six mobile, rapid-response vehicle patrols carrying two security guards, checking the public transport network every night and responding to incidents,
- Smarter, evidence-based targeting of incident hotspots, including major stations and interchanges.
This builds on the existing security arrangements, which includes:
- Real-time CCTV monitoring and response management from the 24/7 Security Hub, which provides targeted monitoring of CCTV across the Adelaide Metro network;
- On-board evening guard presence on the Gawler, Seaford and Outer Harbour rail lines; and,
- An active security presence that reminds public transport users their safety is being monitored – including the use of body-worn cameras on guards.
This follows a similar model to SAPOL’s recent proposal to partly decentralise the response model of the Public Transport Safety Branch, integrating teams into metropolitan districts to improve responses to transit related crimes and events.
“The State Government is rolling out the next phase of the security contract that will deliver a more responsive security system to keep South Australians safe on public transport,” said Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll.
“Safety can be a key factor when people are deciding whether or not to use public transport.
“The safer people feel on our buses, trains and trams the more likely they are to use these services
“There will now be 16 roving guards and six mobile rapid response teams responding to incidents and keeping commuters, transport staff and the community safe.
“There will also be improved real time monitoring through a 24/7 security hub, so the public can rest assured that fixed CCTV cameras at stations and interchanges are monitored around the clock.
“By having more roving guards and more rapid response units, security can be dispatched faster to respond to any incidents across our public transport network.
“These ‘hopper’ or roving guards will operate between trains, trams, buses, stations, stops and interchanges to deter and to deal with serious incidents for staff and customers
“We are also using smarter, evidence-based targeting of incident hotspots to better direct security resources where they are needed most.
“An on-board evening guard presence will also continue on services along the Gawler, Seaford and Outer Harbour lines.
“This builds on other safety measures the State Government has introduced including rolling out security screens on all Adelaide Metropolitan buses, new CCTV at a number of train and tram stations and awareness campaigns.”
