Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has announced a major investment in the safety

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has announced a major investment in the safety of Greater Manchester’s public transport system.

The TravelSafe Partnership (TSP), a multi-agency approach set up to tackle and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) on the region’s bus and tram networks, is set to be bolstered by dozens more officers, with an increased staff presence particularly in the evening and at weekends.

The new Metrolink operator, KeolisAmey, will introduce 900 hours per week of additional security support onto the tram network when they take over the running of the UK’s largest light rail system from tomorrow, Saturday 15 July.

This equates to 24 new TravelSafe Officers (TSOs) who are Security Industry Authority accredited.

From today, the first of 50 new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) which are joining the TSP will begin their dedicated patrolling of the transport network. They’ll be further supported by a new police sergeant and four police constables.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “I am committed to making Greater Manchester’s public transport system one of the safest.

“I promised to prioritise a greater staffing presence on our public transport in the evenings and early mornings and today we are delivering on that promise. This announcement marks not only an investment in the safety of the network, but a clear move towards promoting Greater Manchester as a great place to visit and supporting our thriving nightlife.”