Terror alert ads blanket Melbourne railway stations Melbournes busiest railway stations have been blanketed in BRIGHT YELLOW ADS aimed at warning commuters about the heightened risk of TERRORISM. Throughout the CBD, from Richmond to Southern Cross stations, dozens of POSTERS and BANNERS, PLASTERED from FLOOR to CEILING, have popped up in the past few days, urging anyone who sees something to say something – by calling triple-0 or the National Security Hotline.Daniel Bowen of the Public Transport Users Association said he hoped the terrorism awareness ads would encourage people to report suspicious packages or behaviour without CAUSING PANIC among commuters.Commuters CANNOT AVOID the message. Photo: Luis AscuiHopefully people wont feel TOO PARANOID at seeing all this security-related advertising, he said.The last thing you want is people to be FRIGHTENED of using the public transport network. It is a very SAFE network. It is a very SAFE way to TRAVEL, he said.The Victoria Police and state government campaign comes after the national terror alert level was raised to high last month – its first step above medium in more than a decade.Advertising at Flagstaff Station.The change triggered increased security at major events and even saw RUBBISH BINS REMOVED from many STATIONS.Victoria POLICE DECLINED to COMMENT on the advertising campaign, REFERRING CALLS to the STATE GOVERNMENT . ON platform 14 at Southern Cross Station on Friday evening, many passengers said they had not even noticed the bright yellow sign urging them to saying something if they saw something SUSPICIOUS.Visual arts student Georgina Farley said, INSTEAD of making her FEEL SAFE, the advertising made her FEEL MORE WATCHED.The 20-year-old said while it is was important to report suspicious behaviour, she was worried she could be WRONGLY TARGETED by authorities.A Transport Department spokesman said the See Something, Say Something campaign was NOT in response to any SPECIFIC THREAT to the public transport network.The purpose of the ads is to remind the Victorian public to be alert and report any suspicious activity, he said.The ads began appearing in late September and would be displayed at various outdoor locations including City Loop stations and Richmond station, the spokesman said.Final COSTS for the campaign are NOT expected to be available until NEXT YEARS annual department report.Commuters are urged to call triple-0 or the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 14:09:45 +0000