New transport officers help bus and train users to remain safe
ESSEX Police officers are working with new transport safety officers (TSOs) to help keep the county’s bus and train passengers safe.
Six TSOs have been specially trained to deal with antisocial behaviour and promote passenger safety on parts of the public transport network across Essex.
As part of a pilot scheme running until March next year, they will patrol targeted public transport routes and locations on the c2c and Greater Anglia rail networks which have been identified as antisocial behaviour hotspots.
The TSOs will patrol rail routes serving the Brentwood, Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend, Tendring and Thurrock districts, plus Basildon, Chelmsford, Clacton and Colchester rail stations.
Two bus stations, in Basildon and
Chelmsford, serving the Ensign bus network, will also see visits from the TSOs
Jeff Appleby, the force’s Community Safety Accreditation Scheme development officer, said: “Most people travelling on public transport in Essex experience no personal safety issues but we do know that some passengers, particularly women and girls, can feel less comfortable travelling through certain places or at certain times of day.
“We work with our partners, including British Transport Police, to help keep our bus and train networks safe by addressing key issues such as antisocial behaviour, abuse and violence and the transport safety officers are a valuable addition to this capability.
“While the TSOs’ primary focus will be on engagement and education to help create a safer travel environment, they will also have the authority to issue fixed penalty notices, under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, in response to certain antisocial behaviour incidents.
“If you do have concerns about anything you see on our transport network, you can report them directly to a TSO or a police officer.
“You can also report non-emergency crime to us online at www.essex.police.uk/ro or, if you are in the grounds of a rail station, text British Transport Police on 61016.
“But, if it is an emergency or a crime in progress, always ring 999.”
The pilot scheme, developed in collaboration with Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council, has received £490,000 of Department for Transport (DfT) funding. emergency or a crime in progress.