Neighbourhood Policing is expanding on Manchester’s railways

In 2008 British Transport Police launched its version of Neighbourhood Policing in Manchester city centre.

Now, two successful years on, the team is expanding to encompass the whole of the city’s rail network – as well as several outlying areas.

The idea is to introduce a new style of policing for the railway, one in which passengers, rail staff and local communities have a large say in the work carried out by BTP.

Inspector Michelle Wedderburn, who heads the new Manchester teams, said: “By bringing in a more expansive model of Neighbourhood Policing we are looking to give the local community more responsibility and adopt a problem-solving approach to issues in the railway.

“The work of the NPT during the past couple of years has shown just how effective this method of policing can be.

“Officers have developed excellent links with local rail users and staff and, through partnership work, have been able to tackle many of the issues raised by the community including things such as anti-social behaviour at stations, graffiti and vandalism.

“We want to take this approach and develop it further, using the new NPTs to provide re-assurance and to develop proactive solutions to any issues raised by local people.

“It is all about giving a level of power to the local community to identify issues in their area, tell us about them and then help to resolve them.”

To mark the official launch of the new NPT officers in Manchester on Friday, 14 May, will be holding a number of events in and around the city.

Officers will be manning a crime prevention surgery at Manchester Victoria from 6-10pm to advise passengers how to keep themselves and their property safe whilst at stations and while travelling on trains.

Similar surgeries will be held at Manchester Piccadilly (8-11am) and Bolton (11am-3pm) with the officers also conducting on-train patrols to engage with local people and to deter thieves from operating on the services.

Meanwhile, specialist motorcycle officers will be carrying out patrols targeting level crossings in the area which have seen a high level of offending in recent weeks and months.