Greater Manchester's new dedicated transport police unit made its first arrests at the Piccadilly tram stop on Monday morning, days before its official launch.
Officers from the Transport Police and Crime Command (TPACC) were seen handcuffing two travellers on the rain-lashed platform as part of their patrols of the Metrolink network.
Unit to cover roads, trams and buses
The TPACC has been created to provide coverage of roads, Metrolink and bus services across Greater Manchester. It officially launches on Thursday (October 29), but officers were already in operation on Monday (October 26).
The unit was originally signed off by Andy Burnham during his time as mayor and has been referred to as GMP's '11th district'. It had to wait for approval due to a series of elections.
Focus on anti-social behaviour and violence against women
Officers will tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on the transport network, with additional dedicated resources focused on anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. The unit is expected to have a city centre base and will work closely with TfGM and Mayor Bev Craig's office.
Superintendent Carl O'Brien is leading TPACC. "We want people to use the network and feel safe," he said. "The aim for the chief constable and the mayor is to make this the safest public transport network in the world and that's why we're here today."
Increased 'overt policing' and facial recognition
Superintendent O'Brien said the public will see an increase in what he calls 'overt policing', with officers visible at busy interchanges across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.
The resources will also include facial recognition technology to target known troublemakers and registered sex offenders on the network. When asked about the possibility of the city becoming over-policed, O'Brien said: "For me, we're there to serve the public, we're there to protect the public. If people come forward and give us the information, we'll act on it in a fair and firm manner where needed."
