Safer travel scheme means no easy ride for criminals

Tram and bus passengers will see the reassuring presence of high-visibility officers travelling alongside them as part of a £200,000 public transport safety scheme.

Operation SafeTravel officers will become a familiar sight on Nottinghamshire’s public transport network as they hop on and off buses and trams to offer safeguarding and a friendly face of support, as well as acting as extra eyes and ears in support of police investigations.

The scheme delivers Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden’s ambition to enhance safety on public transport across Nottinghamshire whilst also making it more difficult for criminals to operate in the city centre.

Funding for the project comes from East Midlands Combined County Authority, led by Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, who is responsible for transport infrastructure across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Youth workers will also be drafted in as part of the scheme to engage with young people at tram and bus stops, and on the vehicles, helping to prevent crime and support young people.

Operation SafeTravel will also involve training for bus drivers and awareness raising for passengers to ensure vulnerable public transport users can seek support or report incidents when they feel unsafe.

PCC 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 that 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.”

It builds on an existing PCC-led scheme, Operation Safenet, which launched last summer and involves Nottinghamshire Police working closely with NET trams to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour on and around the tram network.

This includes an officer being embedded within NET’s control room and an analyst looking at crime trends and data insight to help inform targeted policing operations.

This will now be supplemented with regular patrols by high visibility officers, provided by Octavian, with their patrol plans based on Nottinghamshire Police crime data to ensure the resources are directed to the areas, dates and times where they are needed most.

The funding will allow four officers to be employed, who will carry out shifts for up to 10 hours a day, and up to seven days a week, in peak times, including the summer period.

Mayor Claire 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, Police and Crime Commissioner Gary 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."

The initiative also comes as a boost for an ongoing multi-agency project to solve the biggest problems affecting the city including youth ASB, drug dealing, weapon-carrying, illegal e-bikes and retail crime.

Operation Reclaim brings together key partners to ensure that the city is as safe as possible for the public.

Partners 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 in 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 anti-social 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 help assess the success of the pilot scheme, including measuring passengers’ feelings of safety, and to explore what more can be done to make improvements.

Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of Octavian Group, 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, Head of Operations and Safety at NET, 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, NCT Head of Marketing and Projects, said: "Nottingham City Transport 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, Managing Director at trentbarton, 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.”