New police command launched to tackle crime on Greater Manchester buses and trams
The Bee Network will effectively become GMP's 11th policing district
A new dedicated police command has been launched to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and road safety issues on Greater Manchester's buses, trams and roads.
The Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) brings together Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
It has been formed with funding from the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
What is the new command?
TPACC is led by Chief Superintendent Suzanne Downey.
GMP said the command will effectively establish the Bee Network as the force's 11th policing district.
It will include more than 60 new officers on the network, supported by TfGM staff.
The command will also incorporate GMP's existing Roads Policing Unit.
That includes the Central Ticket Office, the motorcycle unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit and the Serious Collision Investigation Unit.
New officers will be recruited into TPACC and funded through additional investment within the mayoral budget, which GMP said protects existing frontline resources.
The command will also support Greater Manchester's Vision Zero ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the region's roads by 2040.
Reaction
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said:
"TPACC represents a significant step forward in how we police and protect Greater Manchester's transport network."
"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."
Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig said:
"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."
"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."
Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt said:
"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."
TPACC will complement TravelSafe LiveChat.
The service lets passengers discreetly report incidents using QR codes on buses and trams, connecting them with trained police call handlers.
More than 2,000 reports have been made through the service, with police responding to 800 incidents.
It can also be accessed through the Bee Network app.
Information received can be shared with TfGM's operational teams, who can monitor incidents through more than 2,500 cameras covering stops, stations and onboard vehicles.
Depending on the circumstances, responses may include deploying police officers or TravelSafe officers, sending security staff or using public address systems to reassure passengers.