Deputy Mayor and Travelsafe Partnership reassure public on safety of transport network

The move follows a number of serious crimes and incidents of antisocial behaviour in areas along the route of the Rochdale via Oldham Metrolink line.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed that it is providing extra patrols in areas where the incidents have occurred, and at the same time the Greater Manchester Travelsafe Partnership (TSP) continues to bolster its team including Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), TravelSafe Officers, Inspectors and Sergeants.

In addition, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has boosted the security of the transport network through the expansion of its control centre hours to 24/7 operation.

The control centre, at TfGM headquarters at 2 Piccadilly Place in Manchester city centre, has access to CCTV footage from across the Greater Manchester road network, park and ride sites, bus stations and Metrolink stops.

The 24-hour control centre operation will also support greater reliability on the transport network as one of the key measures from the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Congestion Deal.

The new system will enable a much quicker and more coordinated response to live incidents and issues and will support the TSP, which uses intelligence and crime and antisocial behaviour data from contributing operators* to help target patrols in necessary areas at key times.

The TSP, which was formed in 2015, works across all ten districts of Greater Manchester to reduce antisocial behaviour. Activity includes school and youth group visits to educate and inform on the effects of antisocial behaviour on victims.

The Deputy Mayor said: “The move to a 24 hours a day, seven days a week control centre is excellent news and I hope it offers additional reassurance to passengers by reinforcing the important point that public transport is a safe and secure way to travel.

“More TSP staff and officers are out on the transport network, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, complementing the vital work already underway which helps keep our communities safe.

“These measures send a clear message to those committing crime and antisocial behaviour on our transport network that we are always watching; we can and will respond immediately to apprehend those responsible.”

Chief Inspector Colette Rose from Greater Manchester Police heads the TravelSafe Partnership. She said: “We are working hard with our partners to ensure that the travel network is one that the public feel safe and secure using. The TravelSafe team ensure that appropriate patrols are in place in areas where we know there are issues with antisocial behaviour and we will continue develop a long term plan to reduce this crime.

“As a Partnership we actively work with schools where we deliver presentations on antisocial behaviour and its effects on the public and wider community. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to parents and ask that they appropriately educate their children about the consequences of their behaviour on others.”

* The TravelSafe Partnership is led by TfGM and GMP, with support from KeolisAmey Metrolink and bus operators Stagecoach Manchester and First Manchester.