A man was arrested after a public transport safety officer intervened when a shop security guard was reportedly punched.
Muhammad Rizwan, who works on Nottingham’s Operation SafeTravel scheme, helped separate the man from members of the public before police arrived.
A public transport safety officer has been commended after intervening to help a shop security guard who was being punched by an alleged shoplifter.
Muhammad helped de-escalate the incident and keep the alleged shoplifter away from members of the public, before calling police, who attended and arrested the man
According to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), the man allegedly stole wine and other goods from a shop before attacking the guard who challenged him. He was also alleged to have smashed bottles and damaged the guard’s vest.
The authority said the man then attempted to assault others, including young people at a tram stop.
Police arrested him within minutes of being called. Safety officers captured footage on body-worn cameras for use as evidence.
Operation SafeTravel began in June, funded by £200,000 from EMCCA. Staff supplied by Octavian Group patrol buses and trams, with deployments informed by police crime and antisocial behaviour data.
Youth workers from Breaking Barriers Building Bridges have also joined the scheme, working mainly around Royal Centre and Old Market Square tram stops.
EMCCA said their outreach had connected more than 50 young people with youth activities or mentoring and helped locate two missing or high-risk young people.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: “These early results demonstrate exactly why youth engagement is such an important part of Operation SafeTravel.
“Enforcement has an essential role to play, but if we want to prevent violence and antisocial behaviour before it happens, we also need trusted people who can engage with young people, recognise when somebody may be at risk and connect them with the right support.
“Whether that is helping a young woman get home safely after a frightening incident, identifying a missing young person or getting somebody struggling with drugs or alcohol into specialist support, these interventions can make a real difference.
“By combining that preventative work with visible patrols, intelligence-led policing and our transport partners, we are creating a network where young people and other passengers can feel safer and where there are people they can turn to when they need help.”
