Police chief steps up public transport anti-crime campaign
Northumbria police chief Susan Dungworth is aiming to make public transport in the region feel safer for commuters.
The Police and Crime Commissioner has launched a new strategy to improve public confidence in the region’s public transport network to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The new strategy sets out a coordinated approach to tackling issues through agreed multi-agency responses, information sharing, establishing a visible reassuring security presence on the transport network and imp[roving reporting mechanisms.
The strategy also aims to reduce the ‘fear of crime’ and will involve closer working relationships between Northumbria Police, local councils and transport companies
It follows Department for Transport data from earlier this year which 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.
In the year to March, 1,020 incidents were reported to Northumbria Police across the public transport network – with anti-social behaviour accounting for the largest proportion of incidents.
The Commissioner said: “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.”
She added: "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 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.”
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.