Enhanced Patrols Introduced on West Midlands Metro to Combat Anti-Social Behaviour

Additional patrols will be implemented on the West Midlands Metro as part of a campaign designed to address anti-social behaviour. Officers from the region’s Safer Travel Partnership are scheduled to be on board trams from Monday, providing support for National Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week. The operator expressed hope that the presence of these patrols would deter unwanted behaviour and activities, noting that serious incidents were uncommon. The Metro system, which runs from Wolverhampton to Edgbaston, Birmingham, also features high-definition CCTV on all trams, staff equipped with bodycams, and nearly all stops recognized with Safer Tram Stop accreditation. Anthony Stanley, Metro’s head of operations and safety, stated, “We’ve implemented a wide range of measures to deter anti-social behaviour and other unwanted activities, including frequent patrols with British Transport Police and officers from the Safer Travel Partnership.” He continued, “Recent prosecutions also demonstrate our zero-tolerance approach to any criminal activity across our tram network, a commitment we uphold every day—not just during awareness initiatives like this one.” Inspector Ivan Merc, Safer Travel Policing Manager, mentioned that his team regularly patrols all modes of public transport in the West Midlands and urged people to report anything they witness. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.