Police in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched a new and improved digital reporting tool to help keep passengers and staff safe across the region’s public transport.
TravelSafe LiveChat is a pioneering feature now available via the Bee Network app and QR codes on buses and trams.
It allows users to discreetly report crime, anti-social behaviour or any situation that makes them feel unsafe directly to trained police call handlers.
With over half a million Bee Network app users now connected to GMP’s control room, the public can receive real-time advice and support, or have officers dispatched when needed.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said: “We’re proud to introduce the new TravelSafe LiveChat feature, which allows passengers to confidently and privately report crime, antisocial behaviour, or situation that make passengers feel uncomfortable while using public transport directly from their mobile phones.
“Every report is handled by a real person at GMP, ensuring swift and compassionate responses. Specially trained staff will use an extensive camera network to monitor incidents and coordinate the most appropriate response to take action and reassure passengers.
“This initiative strengthens our commitment to safer journeys and builds on the foundation of existing teams dedicated to traffic and transport-related issues. Through more integrated ways of working between GMP and TfGM, we’re able to deliver more real-time and effective responses.”
Kate Green, TfGM’s TravelSafe Partnership Manager, added that ensuring the safety of everyone who works or travels on the Bee Network was their number one priority, and TravelSafe LiveChat represented a real step change in how it reinforces its zero-tolerance policy towards any criminal or antisocial behaviour on public transport.
She said: “The service enables both GMP and TfGM to swiftly respond to reports discreetly made by passengers, allowing us to monitor a situation from our control rooms and, within minutes, co-ordinate the most appropriate response, whether that’s notifying nearby security staff, deploying more officers to an incident, or making announcements to reassure passengers.
“While TravelSafe LiveChat has only been live for a short time, we are already seeing the benefits of TfGM and GMP taking a more integrated approach to tackling crime and antisocial activity on the Bee Network, and we remain committed to make public transport safer for everyone.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “With this pioneering, first-of-its-kind approach we are demonstrating once again that the safety of everyone who travels or works on the Bee Network is our number one priority.
“We take a zero-tolerance approach to criminal and antisocial activity on our buses, trams, and at our stations, stops and interchanges, and when someone contacts the new TravelSafe LiveChat, they’ll always be speaking to a real person who can provide specialist support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“This is a critical first phase of a new, integrated approach to policing public transport which will provide a more visible presence out on the Bee Network, to reassure the travelling public that we will act swiftly to deter and tackle these behaviours head on.”
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