West Midlands Metro is set to see increased patrols by officers from the region’s Safer Travel Partnership as part of a national campaign aiming at tackling anti-social behaviour.
While serious incidents are, fortunately, extremely uncommon on the West Midlands tram network, keeping customers and employees safe and secure is a top priority for the operator.
Now, it’s lending its support to National Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week (November 18–24), a nationwide initiative aimed at raising awareness of the effects that anti-social behaviour can have on both communities and individuals.
Anthony Stanley, Metro’s Head of Operations and Safety, explained: “We’ve implemented a wide range of measures to deter anti-social behaviour and other unwanted activities, including frequent patrols with British Transport Police and officers from the Safer Travel Partnership. Our tram system is fully equipped with high-definition CCTV, and our team members wear bodycams to provide an added layer of safety. Nearly all of our stops are proudly recognized with the prestigious Safer Tram Stop accreditation from Secured by Design, a national police-led security initiative that sets high standards for public safety. These measures are part of our unwavering commitment to maintaining a secure, welcoming environment for all Metro users.”
“However, we can never be complacent, and the additional patrols we’ll be introducing over ASB Awareness Week will provide additional reassurance for our customers and staff.
“Recent prosecutions also demonstrate our zero-tolerance approach to any criminal activity across our tram network, a commitment we uphold every day—not just during awareness initiatives like this one.”
ASB Awareness Week, is organised by safety experts at Resolve, and supported nationwide by the government, civil service, police, fire services, local authorities, housing associations, and community groups. Further information can be found here.
Inspector Ivan Merc, Safer Travel Policing Manager added ‘’We regularly patrol all modes of public transport in the West Midlands working closely with all transport operators to target and reduce anti-social behaviour. ASB awareness week is an opportunity to strengthen these efforts, and we would urge anybody report any ASB to text 6016 for incidents on metro or rail, text ‘SeeSay’ with details for anything on buses.”
