Protective Services Officers will gain new powers to make arrests, conduct searches for drugs and respond to incidents around train stations they are patrolling.

Under new legislation to be introduced to parliament this week, PSOs will be able to arrest someone who has breached their parole and request names and addresses of people who witness crimes.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said PSOs would have stronger powers to participate in major events such as Moomba and carry out weapons searches.

She said there would also be new mobile teams that can move across the transport network.