Protective Services Officers, or PSOs have existed in Australia since the late 1980s. Their role was significantly expanded in 2012.

As many of our listeners will be aware, PSO are armed, uniformed officers who pop up at train stations, protests, and at public buildings like parliament and courts. They are part of Victoria Police, but what are their powers? And what are your rights when interacting with them? 

To help us understand these issues we’re joined tonight by Rory Hudson, a Managing Lawyer at Inner Melbourne Community Legal in their criminal law team. Rory has been a criminal lawyer for almost a decade and has worked in private practice, as well as for legal aid.

Further resources:

• Both VLA and YouthLaw have useful Resources regarding PSOs:

  https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/protective-services-officers

  https://youthlaw.asn.au/learn-about-the-law/protective-services-officers-psos/

• Inner Melbourne Community Legal have a dedicated Police Accountability Project, you can contact them for more information (03) 9328 1885
• If you need legal support jump on to the Federation of Community Legal Centre’s website where you can find your local CLC: https://www.fclc.org.au/find_a_community_legal_centre
• Melbourne Activist Legal have lots of resources for people engaging in protests which you can access at their website: https://mals.au/2023/11/05/your-rights-in-designated-areas/
• Victoria Legal Aid’s website has lots of resources including a Street Law Wallet Cardwhich you can download from their website: https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/street-law-wallet-card
• You can also check out the police powers handbook: 
  

  https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/police-powers-your-rights-victoria 

• Support the campaign for an independent police ombudsman here: https://www.policeombudsmannow.com.au/