Police have been given additional powers to maintain public safety and conduct weapon detection searches across public transport services and in 34 transport hubs.
The legislation allows police to conduct metal detector searches on any person and their property who is in a declared Public Transport Hub or on a Declared Public Transport Service.
The Declared Public Transport Service applies to all public tram and bus services in the Adelaide Metro network. This authority also extends to people located on associated platforms or stops, as they are deemed to be entering or exiting a relevant public transport vehicle.
The following train services have also been declared as public transport services:
- Gawler train service
- Belair train service
- Seaford train service
- Flinders train service
- Outer Harbour train service
- Grange train service
- Port Dock train service.
The following areas are now included within Declared Public Transport Hubs under the Summary Offences Act 1953:
- Aberfoyle Park Interchange
- Adelaide Central Bus Station
- Arndale Centre Interchange
- Blackwood Interchange
- Colonnades Centre Interchange
- Crafers Interchange
- Elizabeth City Centre Interchange
- Elizabeth Railway Station
- Entertainment Centre Park 'n' Ride
- Flinders Medical Centre Interchange
- Flinders Railway Station
- Flinders University Interchange
- Glenelg Interchange
- Golden Grove Interchange
- Golden Grove Park 'n' Ride
- Klemzig Interchange
- Marion Centre Interchange
- Mawson Central Interchange
- Mawson Interchange
- Mount Barker Dumas Street Park 'n' Ride
- Mount Barker Dutton Road Park 'n' Ride
- Munno Para Centre Interchange
- Noarlunga Centre Interchange
- Noarlunga Centre Park 'n' Ride
- Old Reynella Interchange
- Paradise Interchange
- Port Dock Interchange
- Salisbury Centre Interchange
- Salisbury Interchange
- Seaford Interchange
- Smithfield Interchange
- Tea Tree Plaza Interchange
- West Lakes Centre Interchange
- Woodville Railway Station
- Any other interchange, station or Park 'n' Ride in metropolitan Adelaide that is used by public transport services operating under the name "Adelaide Metro".
The new powers also enable police to order a person or group posing a risk to public safety and order to leave the public transport service or hub for 24 hours. A person who re-enters or attempts to re-enter a declared place faces a maximum penalty of $1 250.
These areas are in addition to the Adelaide Railway Station, and Shopping Centres including:
- Adelaide CBD
- Arndale Shopping Centre
- Burnside Village Shopping Centre
- Colonnades Shopping Centre
- Elizabeth Shopping Centre
- Hollywood Plaza Shopping Centre
- Marion Shopping Centre
- Munno Para Shopping Centre
- Parabanks Shopping Centre
- Tea Tree Plaza and Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre
- West Lakes Shopping Centre
Other public events and places which may be declared include a place of worship and a public place holding a public event.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Narelle Kameniar saidthese additional powers give police more tools to prevent crime and remove dangerous weapons from circulation by conducting searches on any person or their property.
"On the first day the Adelaide Railway Station was a Declared Public Transport Hub, police reported a man who was allegedly carrying a filleting knife
"There have been 19 knives detected in Declared Shopping Centres at the Adelaide Railway Station following 4000 searches, showing these powers are working."
A list of the all Declared Public Areas can be found on the SAPOL website - SAPOL - Declared Public Events and Places. If other areas or events are declared they will also be published on the SAPOL website and in the South Australian Government Gazette.
