Partners across the Northumbria Police force area are uniting to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and safety concerns across the local transport network. In the year ending March 2026, Northumbria Police received 1,020 reports of incidents on public transport, with anti-social behaviour accounting for the largest proportion of incidents.
Partnership strategy launched
The Safer Transport Northumbria Partnership (STNP) has developed a new strategy in response to a range of cross-cutting challenges which impact public confidence in public transport, including crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), violence against women and girls (VAWG), accessibility concerns and the fear of crime. The strategy recognises that creating a safer transport network requires a collective effort, bringing together policing, transport operators, local authorities, the North East Strategic Mayoral Authority and wider partners to deliver a coordinated response.
Public transport is a vital part of daily life across Northumbria. Nexus Metro services account for almost 32.3 million passenger journeys each year, and cover more than 3.1 million miles annually. Stagecoach buses complete over 13.5 million miles of service every year and carry approximately 39 million passenger journeys.
Safety concerns and research
While the region's transport network remains one of the safest ways to travel, partners recognise that personal safety concerns can influence transport choices and affect how people feel about using public transport. Research commissioned by the Department for Transport earlier this year found that while most adults feel at least fairly safe using public transport, women report feeling significantly less safe than men. The study found that only 16% of young women felt safe on public transport "almost all the time", compared with 57% of older men, while 86% of public transport users reported experiencing anti-social behaviour that made them feel less safe during the previous 12 months.
Locally, between April 2025 and March 2026, 1,020 incidents were reported to Northumbria Police across the public transport network, with anti-social behaviour accounting for the largest proportion of incidents. However, the partnership's collaborative approach is already delivering results. Since the partnership was established in 2021 through Safer Streets funding secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, incidents across the transport network have steadily reduced, with reported anti-social behaviour incidents falling by almost 10%.
Official responses
Susan Dungworth, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "As Police and Crime Commissioner, I know that safety is not measured solely by crime statistics. It is also about how safe people feel. A transport network can only truly succeed when passengers and staff feel secure, supported and able to travel without fear of crime, anti-social behaviour or harassment.
"That is why delivering safer transport is an important part of my Police and Crime Plan and our commitment to Safer Streets and Stronger Communities. Well-connected communities are stronger communities, and ensuring those connections are safe requires a collective effort. No single organisation can achieve this alone.
"This Safer Transport Northumbria Strategy brings everyone together with a shared ambition - to maintain a safe, welcoming and trusted transport network across Northumbria.
"Since the partnership was established in 2021, innovative initiatives such as the Trojan Metro and the End of the Line campaign have demonstrated the impact partnership working can have, contributing to a steady reduction in incidents across the network and this strategy is about building on this work further. From British Transport Police’s VIAWG taskforce to Stagecoach’s bus driver training – everyone is doing their bit."
The new strategy sets out a coordinated approach to tackling issues through agreed multiagency responses, information sharing, ensuring a visible well trained and reassuring presence on the transport network, robust communications and consistent well promoted reporting mechanisms. The strategy also aims to encourage responsible and pro-social behaviour, create safer environments for vulnerable groups, increase public confidence in reporting incidents and ensure the transport network remains welcoming and accessible for everyone.
Northumbria Police Chief Inspector Phil Baker said: "Our aim is always to ensure that using transport systems across the Force area is a safe, secure and enjoyable experience for all users. This is why we are committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour issues which arise and we’re keen to make the public aware that we’re always available to assist.
"Partnership working is of paramount importance to us in achieving this and we are extremely grateful to our transport providers, including Nexus, Northern Rail, Arriva, Go North East, Stagecoach and others, for being so willing to work alongside us.
"British Transport Police also play a key role in helping to deliver a safe transport system and, as ever, we would ask the wider community to continue supporting us. By working together through this vitally important partnership, we can continue to effectively tackle anti-social behaviour and minimise instances of criminality across our transport network.
"The small minority of people who cause such problems should be under no illusion that we will use every tool available to us to take the strongest possible action to help keep our region and transport network safe."
Erika Allen, Quality Health Safety Security and Environment (QHSSE) Director at Nexus, said: "Nexus has a key part to play in supporting the PCC, the police and our local authority partners in keeping the public safe when using the local bus and Metro system.
"We have a laser focus on improving safety and security across our networks. This builds on the work we have already done on Metro, including the roll out of our dedicated security teams, investment in new CCTV, and the launch of our new WhatsApp message alert system - 07345 222 710 - to allow customers to contact the Metro control room more easily and confidentially.
"Our message remains the same: anyone who thinks about causing trouble on public transport will be caught and face prosecution."
Councillor Sandra Pickering, cabinet member for Public Health and Community Safety at Gateshead Council, said: "Everyone has the right to travel across the region for school, work, or leisure safely. In Gateshead, the Interchange is a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, and this needs to change. We want people to feel safe when travelling to and from Gateshead, and this new strategy will help us to make the Interchange a more welcoming place for all residents and visitors, alongside the partnership work is already being done to drive down ASB in the area."
British Transport Police (BTP) Inspector Mary-Anne Snowden said: "Every passenger has the right to a safe journey, and we are relentless in our efforts to protect that right. This strategy strengthens our commitment to making the Northumbria rail network an increasingly hostile environment for offenders as we continue to target offences that have the greatest impact on passengers, including violence and intimidation against women and girls.
"Our teams patrol stations and trains every day, in uniform and plain clothes. So whether you see us or not, we’re there keeping passengers safe and deterring crime. We also urge passengers to save our 61016 text-to-report number in their phones, so if you need us while travelling, you can contact us quickly and discreetly."
