With a number of knife-related incidents on public transport – with Metrolink particularly affected – across Greater Manchester the region’s TravelSafe Partnership have sought to reassure the travelling public that they are stepping up enforcement. Although knife crime is not unique to public transport it remains a top priority for the TSP and Greater Manchester Police with plans for increased activity at hotspots across the public transport network.
Recent incidents on Greater Manchester public transport have included:
- The arrest and charging of three male youths after a press appeal using CCTV following reports of knife point robberies at Failsworth tramstop
- A 34 year old man was stabbed at Market Street tramstop on 8th His injuries are not considered life threatening and enquires are continuing.
- A group of youths were threatened with a knife at Radcliffe tramstop
- A bus driver was threatened with a knife in Bury
The public transport network is covered by CCTV (monitored 24/7) and TravelSafe will support Greater Manchester Police in all investigations, including sharing footage of incidents to inform criminal proceedings.
Alongside operational activity, the Partnership is continuing to deliver a programme of education and behaviour change which saw over 50,500 young people engaged last academic year. This includes joint work with the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit at colleges across the city region.
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “While incidents like this are thankfully extremely rare on our public transport network, we will continue to do everything we can to support Greater Manchester Police in dealing with it. The safety of passengers and transport staff is of paramount importance as we make further improvements to transport as part of building the integrated Bee Network. The police take a zero tolerance approach to knife crime and the TravelSafe Partnership will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that the people responsible are identified and held accountable. The Partnership will continue to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in all its forms by providing a visible daily presence and also during special operations, supported by control rooms which operate 24/7 and monitor feeds from more than 3,800 CCTV cameras across the network. Passengers can also discreetly report any incidents of crime or antisocial behaviour on public transport using the GMP’s LiveChat service.”
The Transport Unit at Greater Manchester Police patrol the network on a regular basis and through the TravelSafe Partnership use a variety of tactics to address and deter crime and anti-social behaviour. This includes specialist resources including knife arches (two additional ones have been funded by the TravelSafe Partnership and KeolisAmey Metrolink), handheld metal detectors, dog units and drones.
Anyone found carrying a knife will be arrested. During December alone there were 12 arrests. The offence can lead to up to four years in prison.