The shocking extent of crime and anti-social behaviour on Greater Manchester's bus and tram network is laid bare by new figures showing a combined rise in incidents of more than a third.
Transport chiefs have published statistics for the whole of last year. They show the number of reported incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on the city region's bus network was 28 per cent above 2021's figure. On Metrolink, reported incidents in 2022 were 10 per cent higher than the previous year.
No exact numbers have been revealed, but the Manchester Evening News reported last year a shocking average of 242 incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour per month were reported on and around Greater Manchester's Metrolink network alone over the last 12 months. That equates to an annual total of 2,904 - or around 60 reports every week.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said while reported crimes have risen, the increase was largely due to rising numbers of passengers travelling again over the year following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The actual rate of incidents has decreased over the year as a proportion of the number of journeys made across buses and trams, the figures reveal. The average incident rate for 2022 for bus and Metrolink combined was 35 incidents per million journeys, down from 39 during the 12 months to December 2021.
The statistics, from Greater Manchester Police, TfGM and bus and Metrolink operators, were revealed in a report on the TravelSafe Partnership by Alex Cropper, the interim chief operating officer of TfGM, due to be presented to councillors on the Greater Manchester Transport Committee today - Friday.
It reveals that as passenger numbers continue to rise post-Covid, the rate of incidents per million passenger journeys made improved in 2022 compared to during 2021.
"Youth-related anti-social behaviour continues as the main driver of incident reports across the network," says the report. "This has been and remains a TravelSafe Partnership priority.
"Youth related anti-social behaviour continues to present a significant challenge across the whole network. During 2022, 41 per cent of all incidents were attributable to youths or young people.
"Key issues include youths congregating, engaging in harassment and intimidation, causing criminal damage, including throwing of missiles at moving vehicles, and interference with the operation of the network, like Metrolink door handle activations."
Incidents of assault on the bus network increased by nine per cent and by 22 per cent on Metrolink.
"It is important to note there has been and will continue to be, sustained and consistent work with staff at bus stations and interchanges (and across the operators) to improve rates of incident reporting into the TravelSafe Partnership," says the report. "The main driver for anti-social behaviour incidents reported on the bus network is incidents involving missiles being thrown at bus services. Across 2022, these incidents increased by 23 per cent."
On Metrolink, the report reveals the Manchester Airport line had the highest proportion of youth related incidents, with an estimated 53 per cent of incidents categorised as youth or young person-related.
"However, the total number of youth related incidents decreased by 5 per cent compared to 2021," the report says. "The Bury line had a 65 per cent increase in youth-related incidents, Bury interchange having the highest number of youth related incidents."
The report reveals there were 844 arrests during last year and 1,526 stop searches. More than 350 schools were visited to educate pupils and 7,397 Metrolink fines were issued.
Greater Manchester Police's Transport Unit has 'continued to deliver high performance results' reveals the report, with arrests increasing by 76 per cent from the first quarter of 2022 compared to the final quarter.
GMP now utilises their operation AVRO tactic across the public transport network and TravelSafe officers carry out special operations across the network every week.
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: "Ensuring people feel safe to use public transport and active travel facilities is every bit as important as the improvements we are making to services, fares and ticketing through the Bee Network. Incidents and perceptions around crime and anti-social behaviour can be a real barrier to people travelling.
"As our data shows, the overwhelming majority of customers use our services to go about their day and treat the network and fellow passengers with respect.
"Through the excellent work of the TravelSafe Partnership - which includes TfGM, Greater Manchester Police, local authorities and many others working together - we are doing more than ever to deter the minority who do not do so. This is also bringing a particular focus on the safety and wellbeing of women and young girls.
"This co-ordinated programme of prevention and enforcement forms a key part of building the integrated Bee Network transport system that this growing region of the country needs, driving economic growth and creating new jobs, housing and opportunity for all."
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