New Transport Policing and Crime Command launched to keep Wigan road users and Bee Network passengers safe
Joined up thinking and collaboration between different agencies, including the police, aims to make the public transport network which includes Wigan to be one of the most secure on the planet
A groundbreaking new policing model aimed at making the Bee Network - which covers Wigan borough - one of the safest public transport networks in the world has been launched across Greater Manchester.
The Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) is a pioneering, first-of-its-kind approach that will bring Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) even closer together to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour and road safety issues across the region's transport network.
Led by Chief Supt Suzanne Downey, the command will effectively establish the Bee Network as GMP’s 11th policing district, which will include over 60 new officers on the network, being supported by staff from TfGM all involved in keeping the network safe and providing greater reassurance to passengers.
The dedicated unit has been formed with funding from the Mayor of Greater Manchester with an Operation Vulcan-style problem-solving approach to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, making the Bee Network one of the safest public transport networks in the world.
This means efforts to keep passengers safe on buses, trams, active travel routes and roads will be strengthened, improving co-ordination in response to incidents and helping to reassure communities.
It will also incorporate the existing Roads Policing Unit within GMP that includes hundreds of officers across our specialist functions such as the Central Ticket Office, the motorcycle unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit and more.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: “TPACC represents a significant step forward in how we police and protect Greater Manchester's transport network.
“By bringing policing, intelligence and transport partners closer together than ever before, we can respond more effectively to incidents, increase visibility across the network and provide even greater reassurance to passengers.
“We are expressly determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and to proactively deny the use of our roads, and the entire transport system, to criminals.
“This new unit further demonstrates GMP’s partnership problem-solving approach, which is leading the way in UK policing.
“Our aim is to make the roads and public transport among the safest in the UK and we will work tirelessly in our efforts to achieve this on behalf of the public of Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “I want a world-class Bee Network where everyone feels safe. There is no place for crime, antisocial behaviour or dangerous driving in Greater Manchester.
“Our new dedicated transport policing command will bring together up to 300 police and safety officers, with high-profile patrols across our roads and the Bee Network. It means a stronger presence in our communities and faster action when people need help.
“It builds on TravelSafe LiveChat, which already discreetly connects thousands of passengers to trained police call handlers within seconds. People can access it today, directly from the Bee Network app.
“TPACC will also crack down on dangerous driving to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which have devastating consequences for families and communities.”
TPACC will complement TravelSafe LiveChat, which allows passengers to discreetly report incidents via QR codes on buses and trams, connecting them directly with trained police call handlers in seconds. More than 2,000 reports have been made through the service, with police responding to 800 incidents.
The key focus of TPACC is to:
- Increase public confidence on safety across the transport network
- Reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and criminality across the transport network
- Increase the number of users of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester
As part of the new command, new officers will be recruited into TPACC and will be funded through an additional investment within the mayoral budget, protecting existing frontline GMP resources.
Over time, the move will deliver a significant increase in visible policing and enforcement across the transport network, alongside existing TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEOs), Metrolink TravelSafe Officers, Customer Service Representatives and operational staff.
The new command will also play an important role in supporting Greater Manchester's Vision Zero ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the region's roads by 2040.
Officers from GMP's Roads Policing Unit will continue to carry out targeted enforcement activity and innovative operations to tackle dangerous driving behaviours and improve road safety.
TPACC will be supported by control centre staff at both GMP and TfGM, who have access to thousands of CCTV cameras across bus stations, interchanges, tram stops and rail stations, helping ensure incidents are identified and responded to quickly.
The launch of TPACC represents the next phase of Greater Manchester's commitment to creating a safer, more secure and more welcoming transport network for everyone who lives, works and travels across the city-region.
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “We put the safety and security of our customers and colleagues at the centre of planning Greater Manchester's Bee Network. This new approach to policing gives us a more joined-up way of tackling the issues that matter to people such as anti-social behaviour on buses and trams and on the roads.
“This builds on a range of other actions taken such as TravelSafe LiveChat and a greater visible presence of staff on the ground around the network. Further plans include upgrading bus and tram stops and interchanges and railway stations, including better lighting and real-time travel information. We will also continue with our particular focus on ensuring the safety and security of women and girls travelling on the network."
Alongside the launch of TPACC, passengers are being encouraged to make use of TravelSafe LiveChat. Reports can be assessed in real time, allowing officers and partner agencies to intervene quickly, reassure passengers and prevent situations from escalating.
Information received through TravelSafe LiveChat can also be shared with TfGM's specialist operational teams, who can monitor incidents through an extensive network of more than 2,500 cameras covering stops, stations and onboard vehicles.
Depending on the circumstances, responses may include deploying police officers or TravelSafe officers, directing security staff to attend or using public address systems to provide reassurance to passengers.
Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Buses and Local Transport, said: "Everyone deserves to feel and be safe when they use public transport so it’s great to see Manchester leading the way by bringing together police, transport companies and local authorities to deliver safer journeys for people across the region.
"We are committed to stopping bad behaviour on public transport, which is why we have introduced a number of strategies to tackle it, including mandatory training for staff working in the bus industry so they can recognise and respond to anti-social incidents. These measures, alongside action on CCTV and work on reporting, will help to improve safety for all passengers.”