Cops patrol NSW public transport

Police have started patrolling Sydney’s trains, buses and ferries as part of a NSW government plan to improve safety for commuters.

Police Minister Michael Gallacher said the first 300 of a 600-strong Police Transport Command started work on Tuesday.

Police are continuing a recruitment drive, internally and externally, to find the additional officers who are expected to be in place by 2014.

The initial 300 officers have been relocated from police stations to seven hubs along the transport system, three in Sydney’s CBD and four others between Wollongong and Newcastle.

Transit officers will still be employed to stop fare evasion and minor offences, and will patrol buses and ferries as well as trains.

However, their numbers will be slashed under the reform, from about 600 to 150.

The gaps in police numbers at station commands would be filled by graduates from the police academy, Mr Gallacher said.

He told reporters in Sydney the Police Transport Command was a significant step towards improving safety.

“You cannot beat police when it comes to the issue of providing the ultimate level of security and ability to respond,” he told reporters in Sydney.

“We’ve got a lot of excited young officers with some very strong commanders who are just chomping at the bit to get out there and make our transport system even safer.”

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