Australia’s ‘men in blue’ protect rail commuters

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 41

Australia’s ‘men in blue’ protect rail commuters

By

JOHN LESLIE

Vandalism happens in most countries, but in Australia the Victorian Railways (V-Line) have the answer to this problem. In Victoria, the statewide presence of blueuniformed railway investigation officers (as they are called) in railway carriages and at railway stations gives rail commuters a comforting feeling of security. Thus, a trained and efficient body of men and women is on hand to assist travellers in emergencies. It is acknowledged gratefully by the travelling public.. For instance, a distraught mother who had travelled with but lost her small daughter from Queensland to Melbourne’s Spencer Street station, was given the telephone number of the Railway Investigation Office by a porter. Within 10 minutes an officer had restored a missing child to the frantic and overwhelmingly grateful smother. ' When an emotionally

disturbed man threatened to leap from the top of a Flinders Street signal station to certain death across the high-tension electric wires, the power was immediately switched off and a railway investigation officer, at the risk of his own life, climbed the stanchion and "talked” the man out of his suicide attempt. But the main role of these guardians of the railways is to protect the public and prevent wanton damage to taxpayers’ property. There are 257 of them employed, at least 150 of them, including 17 women, in uniform. They are employed by V-Line and Metßail. Vandalism in country districts is rare. It is mainly confined to juveniles in the metropolitan area. Children’s Court penalties are too light to be a deterrent and parents often show little interest in their children’s behaviour, according to a senior officer of the R. 1.0. But sometimes there are really serious problems. Two years agi), after a night football match at

the Melbourne Cricket Ground, nine R. 1.0. men were injured, one of them seriously. An officer had gone to preserve the peace and save Metßail passengers from injury on a railway station platform when he was brutally attacked by a gang of louts. He was oft duty for a long time as a result. The motto of the Railway Investigation Office is “Fair, Firm and Friendly.” An officer’s presence is part of the railway’s cordial relationship with the public. They are on hand to put this into effect in V-Line territory, backed up by officers at major provincial centres such as Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Wodonga, Mildura and more. Offences which have had to be contended with in the past have included firing a rifle in a station, damaging a telephone installation, lighting a fire, brawling with pick handles and metal pipes, being drunk and disorderly, armed robbery, and writing graffiti, quite apart from the less seri-

ous ticket evasions and a multitude of minor offences. The service Works in pairs on trains and stations, and has back-up assistance using mobile, radio-controlled vehicles. Patrols are made by day and night shifts, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Of prosecutions launched by the service, 90 per cent have been successful, an indication of the justification and thoroughness of the whole operation. Recruits for this service are usually between 23 and 28 years of age, with minimum height and maximum weight standards. They must have reached at least fifth form education standard and be of good physique. They are trained in all facets of investigation work and law, and are given instruction in self-defence. After graduation, they spend a period in the field under the supervision of experienced officers. The 10 weeks intensive training includes training in human relations and

socially orientated subjects to encourage good will in dealing with the travelling public. Eight officers are constantly engaged in talking to schools and public gatherings, with the aim of preventing offences before they occur. Railway investigation officers wear distinctive blue uniforms with identification patches on their shirts and tunics. The whole department is based on a formal rank structure with insignia on the uniform to indicate rank. There is great co-opera-tion between these officers and the railway station staff and there is also an excellent rapport with the Victorian police. During a dangerous operational situation an immediate police response is given. The railway investigation officers maintain a friendly, supportive, and protective service that is greatly valued by the travelling public »f Victoria and beyond.