Bus drivers say a new public transport safety scheme introduced by Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is bringing trust, confidence and comfort to passengers as they travel around the city and county.
Operation SafeTravel, which was launched by PCC Gary Godden in June, sees high-visibility officers hopping on and off buses and trams to keep people safe, providing a reassuring presence and extra eyes and ears in support of police investigations on the public transport network.
The £200,000 partnership initiative brings together the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham City Transport (NCT), trentbarton, NET trams and Octavian to deliver a coordinated approach to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour while increasing confidence in public transport.
Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden, who recently visited the NCT depot to speak with staff, said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe when travelling, whether that’s by bus, tram, train or on foot.
“Public transport is absolutely vital to Nottinghamshire, connecting people to work, education, healthcare, family and leisure, and nobody should ever feel intimidated or unsafe while making those everyday journeys.
“Operation SafeTravel has already demonstrated the difference that genuine partnership working can make, and I’m delighted to see that success now being delivered across Nottingham’s bus network.
It enables partners to respond quickly and effectively to reports of antisocial behaviour, violence, theft, fare evasion and other criminal activity affecting the network.
Dayne Astill, a bus driver at NCT and Branch Secretary for Unite the Union, praised the scheme.
He said: “I think the biggest benefit is having people getting on the bus in a security role and getting the passengers to actually be able to speak with them, find out what Operation SafeTravel is all about, and stop antisocial behaviour from actually occurring on the buses.
“I’d say a scheme like this has got to be better for passengers. It’s going to bring more trust, more confidence and more comfort, knowing that everybody is there, doing what they should be doing – which is getting on the bus, getting from A to B safely, securely and on time.”
Visible patrols under Operation SafeTravel allow officers and transport staff to engage directly with passengers, identify emerging issues before they escalate and provide support to people who may feel vulnerable while travelling.
The partnership also allows intelligence to be shared more effectively between organisations, helping to identify repeat offenders, hotspot locations and patterns of behaviour that may not previously have been recognised by a single organisation acting alone.
Bus drivers and frontline staff have welcomed the additional support and increased visibility provided by the operation.
Leon Walker, another bus driver for NCT, said: “It just gives that benefit of the doubt that if anything does happen, we have got that help and support.
“If you do meet the Octavian personnel, don’t panic – be more relaxed, and if you have any issues or any questions, feel free to ask them.”
The operation is also expected to provide significant reassurance to drivers and frontline transport staff, who can often be the first to experience challenging behaviour while carrying out their roles.
Tom Morgan, Managing Director at trentbarton, added: “Keeping our customers and team safe is always a top priority. Operation SafeTravel is a great example of partners working together to provide reassurance and to help ensure everyone can travel with confidence across Nottinghamshire’s public transport network.”
Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of Octavian Group, said: “Safety and reassurance are fundamental to encouraging people to use public transport with confidence.
“Through Operation SafeTravel, our officers are working alongside transport operators, Nottinghamshire Police and other partners to provide a visible presence that helps deter antisocial behaviour, supports passengers and staff, and contributes to a safer environment across the network.
“We’re proud to play our part in a partnership that is delivering real benefits for the travelling public.”
