Aggressive tactics used by Victoria Police Protective Services Officers at Melbourne train stations are scaring commuters into waiving their rights and escalating into violent confrontations, a community law service has found.

The Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria has undertaken a three-year project to engage with commuters regarding their concerns with PSOs since their introduction in 2012.

PSO Credit:Justin McManus

People were regularly asked for a name, address, date of birth and proof of identity when they were innocuously sitting at the train station or using the station as a thoroughfare, the federation's senior policy advisor Michelle McDonnell told Fairfax Media ahead of the release of a report on the project's findings.

"The report clearly highlights the way that these informal chats escalate into physical confrontation where people are hurt and in some cases pyschologically damaged from negative encounters from PSOs," Ms McDonnell said.