PASSENGERS waiting for their buses will get the extra assurance of a police presence as part of the next Gateway operation.
The latest anti-crime drive by police and public transport staff will take place in Nottingham on Friday, June 30.
This operation represents a change in tactics from most previous Gateways, which usually take place at individual bus or tram stops.
However, in tomorrow’s Gateway – the ninth in Nottingham in 2006 so far – police and Nottingham City Transport staff will be working together at a major bus station.
PC Derek Pickering, transport beat manager for Nottingham’s public transport system, said: “There are three main reasons for this – it means we can show a presence at a bus station, can make random revenue checks on several buses and, in addition, can reassure passengers while they are waiting for their buses.”
In previous Gateway operations held in 2006, police and tram and NCT employees have specifically targeted anti-social youths who have caused trouble for transport staff and people who have been using forged bus passes.
But as always, the Gateway team is also watching for any other violent or anti-social behaviour which disrupts the running of the city’s transport system.
And police warn again that all offenders will face prosecution. These include any motorists caught flouting bus lanes, who face fixed penalty fines.
The Gateway operations are held as part of the on-going Respect for Transport campaign, which aims to increase use of public transport in Nottingham by reducing actual and perceived levels of crime and disorder on trams and buses.
They are also held to provide reassurance to transport staff and the majority of law-abiding passengers.
Respect for Transport is backed by Nottinghamshire police, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City Transport, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham Express Transit, JC Decaux, British Transport Police and Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership’s The Big Wheel.
Further Gateway operations will be held throughout 2006.
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