“We walked down there in our brand-new tunics and skirts. We walked into court and relieved the police of their duties, and they were glad to hand over to us,” she said.
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In subsequent years, the PSU has taken over many of the static security duties that had previously been undertaken by police. These include providing security at police stations, public buildings such as Parliament House, Government House and the Shrine of Remembrance. In those early days, the PSOs were unarmed and carried only rubber truncheons. Things have changed since then. Today's PSOs are armed and have greater powers too. PSU’s Inspector Michael Glinski is very proud of his unit’s achievements over the years.
30 YEARS OF PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY Victorians will be familiar with Protective Services Officers (PSOs) working on the city’s train platforms, but may be less familiar with the security PSOs, who have been quietly and diligently going about their duties for the past 30 years.
It began operations on 1 May, 1988 and since then, the PSU has gone from strength to strength and is celebrating 30 proud years of protecting the community, with PSOs working to provide specialist security services.
The Protective Services Unit (PSU) was formed after the Russell Street Police Station bombing tragedy in 1986 as a result of a security review.
Supervisor Denise Howship is from the original first squad, and remembers her first shift at the Magistrates’ Court.
MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER AND MYSTERY Dark Room: Photographs and Stories from Victoria’s 1930s Crime Scenes is the latest exhibition at the Victoria Police Museum. The exhibition tells the stories behind black and white crime scene photos and sheds light on some of the early, brutal crimes that occurred in Victoria. A body found in a Bendigo mine, shootings, gangs, a conspiring couple and more mysterious stories are examined in the exhibition, which uses the glass plate negatives taken at crime scenes from the investigating police’s perspective. The exhibition opens in July at the Victoria Police Museum, Mezzanine Level, 637 Flinders Street, Docklands. The museum is open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Visit policemuseum.vic.gov.au to find out more.
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POLICE LIFE | WINTER 2018
The unit’s first officers were deployed to provide security services to magistrates and the courts.
Image Dark room 01 C rime scene photos from the 1930s feature in the latest Victoria Police Museum exhibition.
“Our reputation and the rapport we’ve built with important stakeholders means we’re always being asked to expand our role,” he said. Currently, the PSU provides a security service to 17 separate and diverse deployment locations including the Supreme Court, County Court, Magistrates' Court, Suburban magistrates' courts, the Victoria Police Centre and Parliament House. “The places our PSOs work are high-profile where the chances of an incident occurring are heightened due to the effect it would have,” Insp Glinski said. Image Protective Services 01 T he PSU is celebrating 30 years of protecting significant Victorian buildings and sites. Editorial: Donna Magness