High-visibility officers will patrol buses and trams in Nottinghamshire as part of a £200,000 public transport safety scheme.
Operation SafeTravel is funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority and will see officers travel across parts of the public transport network, including at tram and bus stops and on vehicles.
The scheme is intended to deter crime and antisocial behaviour, support vulnerable passengers and provide information that may assist police investigations.
Funding has been provided by EMCCA, led by Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward, which has responsibility for transport across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Youth workers will also be involved in the scheme, engaging with young people at tram and bus stops and on vehicles.
The project will include training for bus drivers and information for passengers on how vulnerable public transport users can seek support or report incidents.
Mayor Claire Ward said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe and confident when using public transport. That is why I am delighted to invest in Operation SafeTravel, helping to provide a visible, reassuring presence on our buses and trams, while making it harder for criminals to operate.
“One of my key priorities is building a region where people can access opportunity easily and safely. By working closely with the police, PCC Godden and transport operators, we are tackling crime and antisocial behaviour while strengthening public confidence in our transport network.
“This is also about prevention. Alongside enforcement activity, youth workers will help engage and support young people, creating a safer, more welcoming transport system for everyone.”
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: “Operation SafeTravel aims to ensure anywhere on the public transport network is seen by people as a safe space, where they can rely on getting support if they need it.
“I want people coming to Nottingham to be reassured by the high-visibility presence we will have on our buses and trams and feel safe and supported whenever they travel for work or leisure.
“I’m really pleased Mayor Claire shares my vision to protect passengers and combat criminality on public transport and has invested this significant sum of money into our area to make this vision a reality.”
The scheme builds on Operation Safenet, which launched last summer and involves Nottinghamshire Police working with NET trams to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour on and around the tram network.
Operation Safenet includes an officer based in NET’s control room and an analyst using crime trends and data to help inform targeted policing operations.
Operation SafeTravel will add regular patrols by high-visibility officers provided by Octavian. Patrol plans will be based on Nottinghamshire Police crime data, with resources directed to locations, dates and times identified as priorities.
The funding will allow four officers to be employed. They will work shifts of up to 10 hours a day, up to seven days a week, during peak periods including the summer.
The initiative will also support Operation Reclaim, a multi-agency project focused on issues in Nottingham city centre including youth antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, weapon-carrying, illegal e-bikes and retail crime.
Partners in Operation Reclaim include Nottinghamshire Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, the Violence Reduction Partnership, Nottingham City Council and It’s in Nottingham, which represents city centre businesses.
Superintendent Chris Pearson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “It is vitally important that people riding our bus and tram networks feel safe, and these additional resources will go some way towards improving public confidence.
“Violence against women and girls is also a force priority, and hopefully these new measures will provide additional security for women and girls who use our transport networks and are able to report any concerns they may have.
“We know that criminals will use our tram and bus networks, and hopefully this will send out a very clear message to them.
“I couldn’t be clearer – if you are going to commit crime, intimidate, or commit antisocial behaviour on our transport networks, then we will use all the powers at our disposal to make sure you are dealt with robustly.”
A baseline survey will be carried out to assess the pilot scheme. This will include measuring how safe passengers feel and identifying whether further improvements are needed.
Sanjay Patel, Octavian Group managing director, said: “We are proud to support Operation Safe Travel and work alongside partners to help make Nottinghamshire’s public transport network safer and more welcoming for everyone.
“Our high-visibility officers will provide reassurance to passengers while also acting as an important deterrent to criminal and antisocial behaviour. By using intelligence-led patrols and maintaining a strong presence across the trams and transport hubs, we want passengers to feel confident and supported whenever they travel.”
Andy Downie, NET head of operations and safety, said: “As a key transport operator, we play an integral role in connecting the city and helping the people of Nottingham get from A to B with ease. We believe no one should feel unsafe while travelling to explore all our city has to offer, and that’s why we’ve always been committed to doing our bit to protect the safety of each and every one of our passengers.
“Following the success of Operation Safenet, which launched last year, Operation SafeTravel marks a welcome progression of our partnership with the PCC and Nottinghamshire Police, reaffirming our stance on doing all we can to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour across the network and beyond. We look forward to working closely with all partners over the coming months on what is a really positive and incredibly vital initiative for the whole city.”
Anthony Carver-Smith, Nottingham City Transport head of marketing and projects, said: “NCT welcomes the introduction of the SafeTravel officers, who will provide a reassuring presence across our services for customers and our staff.
“Whilst travelling by bus is a safe way to get around the city, customers and drivers have reported to us that low-level antisocial behaviour is causing disruption to their journeys, which the new officers will be able to help address.”
Tom Morgan, Trentbarton managing director, said: “Bus travel is already a very safe way to get around, with Transport Focus research showing nine out of 10 passengers feel safe and secure on board. We’re proud of the work our teams do every day, and we welcome the additional reassurance Operation SafeTravel will bring. A visible presence on our services will give added confidence to both our customers and drivers.”
