Specials and CCTV help to cut bus crime

AN increase in the number of special constables at bus stations and greater use of CCTV technology has helped to cut crime and anti-social behaviour on Greater Manchester’s buses by almost 17 per cent in three years.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which runs 21 bus stations in the region, has spearheaded the Crime Reduction on Public Transport (CROPT) initiative alongside Greater Manchester Police and bus operators.

Incidents have dropped from 7,389 incidents in 2009-10 to 6,163 for 2011/2012.

And figures for October-November last year there were 269 — a drop of 43 per cent over the same period in 2011.

The reductions follow a series of initiatives and enhancements. Joint Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and TfGM safety operations have also been stepped-up, including the use of methods to detect passengers carrying harmful weapons, and visiting school assemblies to talk about transport behaviour.

Michael Renshaw, TfGM bus and rail director, said: “We are pleased we have been able to secure such positive results. A number of initiatives have been put in place and they have been very successful.”