Train violence: the fightback

BRENDAN CRABB

POLICE are now cracking down on anti-social behaviour on the South Coast train line.

After several recent incidents of assault on trains on the South Coast line, Police Minister David Campbell launched an Illawarra-specific operation targeting rail crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Vision South 3 has been introduced to the Local Area Commands of Wollongong, Lake Illawarra and Shoalhaven, to establish a highly visible police presence in and around the southern rail network.

Police activities will include patrols of crime “hot spots”, weapons searches, move-along directions to those displaying anti-social behaviour, patrols of trains, stations and bus and rail interchanges, rail lines and taxi ranks, and emergency response and investigation.

“The operation’s targeted hot spots will be constantly reviewed, allowing police to quickly identify and respond to spikes in crime,” Mr Campbell said.

“Over the past months police from the Wollongong Local Area Command Commuter Crime Unit have been deployed on the rail system, resulting in over 800 train patrols, 500 infringement notices and over 80 charges laid.”

Mr Campbell said that these additional measures would help prevent unfortunate incidents such as the female who was sexually assaulted on a train near Unanderra Station in late March.

Sergeant for the Lake Illawarra Local Area Command John Klepczarek said the increased numbers of officers and number of patrols along the South Coast line – and in particular the Lake Illawarra and Wollongong areas – would make train travel safer for those travelling throughout the area.

This includes officers working with station staff to help locate these “hot spots” and times when problems are most likely to occur.

“It’s part of an area wide command and there are extra resources being allocated to trains and stations . . . any officer who is available during the day gets tasked to a station and we have officers riding trains right throughout our command,” Sgt Klepczarek said.

“We want people to ride trains safely and comfortably; if people are going to display inappropriate, violent or anti-social behaviour then they need to know that it won’t be tolerated.”