Youth workers join Operation SafeTravel to help keep young people safe
Young people at risk of violence, exploitation and substance misuse are being supported by specialist youth workers on Nottingham Express Transit (NET)’s tram network as part of Operation SafeTravel, with two missing young people already located and dozens connected with further support.
Youth workers from Breaking Barriers Building Bridges (4Bs) are providing a visible and trusted presence around some of Nottingham city centre’s busiest tram stops, engaging directly with young people and intervening where there are concerns about their safety.
The work forms part of Operation SafeTravel, which brings together high-visibility patrols, policing, transport partners and youth outreach to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour and make Nottingham’s public transport network safer.
Early results from 4Bs’ outreach show the difference that presence is already making.
More than 50 young people have been signposted or referred to youth and mentoring opportunities, while young people experiencing problems with cannabis or alcohol are regularly being connected with specialist support.
Two missing or high-risk young people have also been located by youth workers, with their whereabouts referred to the police Missing Persons Team.
In one significant safeguarding intervention, youth workers supported a 19-year-old woman following an incident in the city centre where several young people were reported to have knives.
Staff brought the woman into a safe location, informed police and arranged transport home. Concerned that she could remain at risk, the team tracked her journey and stayed on the phone with her until she arrived safely.
On another occasion, police were contacted after youth workers encountered two young people believed to have been involved in a fight where knives were present, providing descriptions to officers to support wider safeguarding and disruption activity.
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.”
The 4Bs outreach focuses primarily on Royal Centre and Old Market Square tram stops, with teams also deployed to Hockley when intelligence or emerging concerns indicate additional support is needed.
During busy periods, youth workers can come into contact with more than 100 young people in a day, ranging from brief conversations and advice to safeguarding interventions and referrals into specialist services.
The approach is deliberately relationship-based. By regularly returning to the same locations, youth workers can become familiar and approachable faces to young people travelling through the city.
That consistency means they can listen to concerns, identify emerging risks and offer practical help – including contacting parents or carers, accompanying young people on parts of their journeys or, where the level of risk warrants it, arranging tracked transport to ensure they reach a safe place.
Chief Inspector Mike Ebbins, Nottinghamshire Police’s lead for Operation SafeTravel, said: "Operation SafeTravel is about creating a transport network that Is safe. "hile officers will take robust action against crime and anti-social behaviour, our third sector providers provide a unique opportunity to engage with young people, build trust and identify vulnerabilities at an early stage.
"The partnership has already generated valuable intelligence relating to issues such as exploitation and missing young people, helping us better understand emerging risks and target resources effectively.
"By working alongside 4Bs, transport operators and other partners, we can intervene earlier, safeguard vulnerable individuals and prevent situations from escalating into more serious incidents.”
Four dedicated high-visibility officers are also being employed through Operation SafeTravel, working shifts of up to ten hours a day and up to seven days a week during peak periods. Patrols are informed by Nottinghamshire Police crime data so resources can be concentrated at the locations and times where they are most needed.
Andy Downie, service delivery and safety director at NET, said: “We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe while travelling on any of our trams, which is why our partnership with Operation SafeTravel is a particularly important one for us.
“The new youth workers initiative marks a really positive progression of our partnership, feeding into the work we’re doing to support vulnerable travellers of all ages. Engaging with the younger members of the community directly, provides the perfect opportunity to gain further insight into their challenges too, while also serving as a powerful proactive approach to deterring juvenile crime and antisocial behaviour across the network and beyond.”
Operation SafeTravel also includes training for bus drivers and awareness-raising for passengers, helping vulnerable public transport users understand how they can seek support or report incidents when they feel unsafe.
The initiative builds on Operation Safenet, which has brought Nottinghamshire Police and NET together to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour on and around the tram network. This includes a police officer embedded within NET’s control room and an analyst using crime trends and data to help inform targeted policing operations.
Operation SafeTravel adds another layer to that work by combining enforcement and high-visibility patrols with early intervention, youth engagement and safeguarding.
It also supports Operation Reclaim, the wider multi-agency approach bringing partners together to tackle issues affecting safety and public confidence in Nottingham city centre.
Councillor Matt Shannon, Executive Member for Community Protection, Neighbourhoods and Equalities, said: “Young people should feel safe and confident travelling around Nottingham, whether they’re heading to college, work or meeting friends.
"Having approachable youth workers out on the transport network gives them someone to speak to and a chance to raise concerns and support when they need it.
“This is a welcome addition to our work with partners to make Nottingham safer. Alongside visible patrols and action to tackle antisocial behaviour, building trusted relationships with young people will help us better understand the issues they face and intervene before problems escalate.”
The early outreach has also identified issues extending beyond crime and antisocial behaviour. Typically, two to three young people each week are being referred for support relating to cannabis or alcohol misuse, while mental-health referrals have also been made. At least five young people identified as heavy smokers have taken up ongoing mentoring, and families have been connected with support for food parcels and hot meals.
The monitoring report concludes that the outreach has already demonstrated substantial reach, with more than 50 youth-service or mentoring referrals, regular substance-misuse referrals, two missing or high-risk young people supported and at least two significant intelligence or safeguarding matters shared with police.
Maxine Cockett, CEO and Founder of Breaking Barriers Building Bridges, said: "We have partnered with operation safe travel. This innovative is helping to support young people at risk of exploitation, violence, substance misuse, bullying when travelling to and through the city centre.
"We have added our approachable friendly presence, to two of the city centres busiest tram stops. This gives the young people a point of call, and the reassurance of familiar faces they can trust.
We have given our details to many of the young people coming of the tram, so if there is an emergency we can work quickly with other agencies to make sure that the young person is safe. “The safety of the young people is Paramount.
“We are here to help in any way we can, to keep young people safe. We want our city to be a safe place for everyone.”
With the new school and college term now underway, the partnership will continue developing the outreach, helping ensure young people travelling through Nottingham have both a visible safety presence and trusted adults they can approach when they need support.