Pilot scheme to make public transport even safer
Partners are joining forces to make public transport even safer as part of a pioneering new pilot scheme in Nottinghamshire.
Operation Safenet will see closer collaboration and information sharing between police and Nottingham’s tram operator to prevent crime, analyse trends and come up with solutions that keep passengers safe on and around the 20-mile tram network.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Gary Godden is bringing together Nottinghamshire Police and Nottingham Express Transit (NET) for the collaborative project, as part of his vision to keep people safe, especially women and girls.
Passengers will also benefit from enhanced support, monitoring and evidence gathering from dozens of existing ‘help points’ at tram stops and CCTV cameras across the tram system.
If successful, the 12-month pilot scheme could be extended or rolled out to other forms of public transport across Nottinghamshire.
PCC Godden said: “Nottingham is a great city and Operation Safenet is about making it even safer by bringing partners together to work more closely behind the scenes on things like evidence gathering, information sharing and crime prevention.
“It includes employing a researcher to analyse crime and antisocial behaviour patterns. This then allows existing front-line resources, such as officers from Neighbourhood Policing Teams, to take targeted and data-driven action to solve local problems and nip any issues in the bud.
“Not only will this benefit the people of Nottinghamshire, it is also going to support tram staff to stay safe as they carry out their jobs.
“We know that public transport is vital to the way people live their lives, particularly with the cost of living making personal travel more expensive. I want people to be safe in the knowledge that when they come to Nottingham for a night out, to work, or to visit, they will be safe on our public transport network.”
The scheme will complement the ongoing work across the city and county to create safe spaces and ensure that someone in need of a temporary sanctuary can find a location near to them where they can access help.
PCC Godden’s Police and Crime Plan – A Safer Nottinghamshire For All – sets the policing and public safety priorities until 2029. Operation Safenet supports some of the core principles of his plan, to put communities and victims first and to strengthen partnership working.
It will also support priority themes including preventing violence against women and girls, antisocial behaviour, serious violence and supporting vulnerable people.
Assistant Chief Constable Sukesh Verma, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Operation Safenet is about working more closely between CCTV centres, control rooms and partners to make sure information is shared effectively to give us the opportunity to tackle those who cause the most harm.
“This pilot will complement the work that we have been delivering through the Immediate Justice scheme and antisocial behaviour hot spot patrols and the former Safer Streets project.
“Ultimately the goal is around ensuring our communities feel safe and listened to and when there are elements of criminality, my officers will deal with it swiftly, effectively and robustly.”
He added that while much of the Operation Safenet work will happen behind the scenes, people will still see a uniformed presence from police officers who are encouraged to travel on public transport as part of their routine neighbourhood policing patrols, and the force’s emergency response officers will be available when called upon.
Sarah Turner, Managing Director of NET, said: “The safety of all our passengers, staff and the people of Nottingham has always been our priority, and is a crucial part of the NET ethos, woven into everything that we do.
“For a number of years now, we’ve introduced a range of measures to help keep all our tram users and members of the public safe. These include well-lit stations and platforms, HD CCTV cameras on all trams, emergency help buttons at all stops and on all trams, and the ability to contact a member of the team discreetly through WhatsApp on 0115 824 6060.
“The introduction of this new police resource is a welcome extension of that, and cements our commitment to ensuring everybody feels safe using our trams, and when travelling around the city.
“Over the years, we’ve worked really closely with Nottinghamshire Police to devise ways to reduce antisocial behaviour and violence across the network, and this new initiative is a really positive partnership that we look forward to developing further.”
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward has also given her support to the scheme.
She said: "This is a brilliant initiative and illustrates the benefits of collaborative working between the police, transport bodies and trade unions.
“I am pleased the Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden has pushed for this partnership with NET which will make our public transport system safer and give assurance to tram users and local residents that help is always there when needed."
The initiative is being launched during Better Transport Week, an annual celebration of how better transport can help connect communities and bring people together organised by Campaign for Better Transport. This year Better Transport Week runs from 16 to 22 June and is being funded by the UK Government.
Michael Solomon Williams, from Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Transport that is safe, accessible, affordable, reliable, integrated and green helps connect us to the people we love, the things we need and the places that matter. Nottingham’s tram system helped transform the city’s public transport network and this initiative should help ensure that even more people are encouraged to use the network in the future.”