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Sunday May 19, 2013

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Salvation Army 'Street Teams' take to the trains

Posted by: Neil Mitchell Program | 1 November, 2012 - 9:14 AM
Salvation Army Officer Brendan Nottle

Salvation Army response teams will take to our trains at night to increase safety, and try to defuse potentially violent situations.

The teams will work alongside PSO's and have the support of Police and Metro.

Salvation Army Officer Brendan Nottle told Neil Mitchell told Neil Mitchell the teams will travel on the train to help people who are 'doing it tough'.

"Could be homeless people, people with mental health issues, people who are lonely... and hopefully we'll improve people’s perceptions of safety on the rail network,”

“We’re definitely about the soft side of things, we’re not interested in violence or anything like that and if we see a violent situation we’ll call the police straight away”

“It’s really about coming alongside people that sometimes have the potential to cause other public transport users to be concerned” Major Nottle said.

The Salvation Army have trained 120 people in the program who will initially operate in the early evening during the week, and between 8pm and 2am on Friday and Saturdays.

LISTEN: Major Brendan Nottle speaks with Neil Mitchell

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Neil Mitchell Neil is one of Australia’s most experienced journalists with success in newspapers, radio and television. He was one of the youngest editors of a daily metropolitan newspaper, The Herald.

 

Blog comments Your Say

  • I find it extremely annoying that the minute someone decent wants to do something positive there's always someone nasty making a ridiculous comment that wants to bring people down for the baggers move on and show some dam respect for these people they have done nothing wrong your hung up on some incident from the 60s.

    mandy Friday 2 November, 2012 - 1:21 PM

  • The response team would be a good deterrent for people that are vulnerable when there are thugs and creeps lingering.

    mandy Friday 2 November, 2012 - 10:41 AM

  • It could be quite risky there are so many dodgy people out there that don't appreciate help and are either drug addicted,bipolar,schizophrenic etc they would be a good deterrent on a train if there are people travelling alone and are vulnerable to creeps and thugs let's hope the PSOs are close by after all they were trained and are payed to do this job.

    mandy Thursday 1 November, 2012 - 9:27 PM

  • funny how when the Guardian Angels Australia wanted to do this the Police were ice cold on the idea and called them vigilantes, salvos do it and get full support. Good luck to them anyway, it's a tpugh gig, hope they have enougb training to handle violent drunks.

    ccitizen Thursday 1 November, 2012 - 9:12 PM

  • i would just like to bring to your attention a group of people who work in the city each night and who take the time to keep an eye on kids who may be in need of help. i am a foster parent and in recent times they have been a real blessing as they have kept an eye on a young person who didnt return back home. They are funded by the Department of Human Services. These people are out on the streets each night and rarely get a mention so thankyou for allowing me to bring their name forward as yet another vital service this city has for our youngsters in need. I understand they are there until about 3am each night so more power to them and the DHS for taking this initiative!!!

    susi Thursday 1 November, 2012 - 3:49 PM

  • Come off it Pru,
    You could say about any group or Church. At least there being pro active and doing something

    Belushi Thursday 1 November, 2012 - 2:37 PM

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