Bus patrols on board for 12 months (From Bury Times)

Bus patrols on board for 12 months

2:00pm Friday 14th September 2007

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A SECURITY patrol covering Bury Interchange and other bus stations throughout Greater Manchester is being retained for at least another 12 months.

Transport bosses have agreed to invest nearly £150,000 in the patrol and response unit over the next 12 months.

Approval for the extension of the new safety initiative has been given by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) and the Greater Manchester Bus Operators Association (GMBOA). Uniformed officers work closely with the police to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on the bus network and responded to more than 260 incidents in their first nine months on patrol.

Councillor Andrew Fender, chairman of the GMPTA's policy committee, said: "The patrol and response officers have helped to reassure passengers that they can travel safely on the local bus network. The officers target bus services and stations, where we think there's a potential for problems to occur, and banned 57 people from bus stations in their first nine months on patrol. I'm sure their continued presence will help to prevent crime, anti-social behaviour and vandalism on bus services and at stations in Greater Manchester."

The security officers board nearly 100 buses each week and spend more than 50 hours patrolling stations. The majority of incidents they attend involve anti-social behaviour.

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