Partners team up for enhanced high-visibility patrols
Partners teamed up for an evening of high-visibility patrols in Nottingham city centre last night, as part of an ongoing operation to enhance public safety.
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police, British Transport Police and It’s in Nottingham’s My Local Bobby scheme, were joined by Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram ticket enforcement officers as well as Nottingham City Council’s neighbourhood safety officers for the patrols.
The action, which focused on Nottingham Railway tram stop, the Old Market Square tram stop and the area outside the Theatre Royal, was part of Operation Safenet, a partnership scheme to further enhance safety on and around the tram network.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Gary Godden facilitated the pilot project, with Nottinghamshire Police and NET, which launched in the summer. It is hoped the scheme could be expanded to other forms of public transport in the future.
The aim is to ensure passengers and the wider public feel safe when travelling into Nottingham, whilst also strengthening partnership working, to prevent antisocial behaviour, serious violence, and violence against women and girls.
The action is in addition to an increased presence from police and partners in the city centre during the festive period and the ongoing policing operation to enhance resources and give public reassurance following a machete incident in the Old Market Square on 17 November. This has resulted in dozens of arrests and a number of people being banned from the city centre.
Deputy PCC Angela Kandola went out on the high visibility patrols to see the partners working together to keep people safe while doing Christmas shopping - or enjoying a night out in the city’s vibrant nightlife.
“Operation Safenet is designed to give people peace of mind when they use public transport, so they can feel reassured that they have a support network from a number of different agencies working together to keep them safe,” she said.
“The high-visibility patrols are now taking place regularly and they complement the huge range of extra resources that already go into the night-time economy in Nottingham, via the police, city council, and other partner agencies and businesses.
“The Operation Safenet scheme also offers the public the chance to use the help points at all of the tram stops across the network, to press a button and ask for help if they feel unsafe at any time.
“So, my message to the public is to visit the city, enjoy yourself and if you need help at any point, it will be close at hand.”
Chief Inspector Mike Ebbins, of Nottinghamshire Police, has been overseeing the force’s contributions to the Operation Safenet partnership.
He said: “This high-visibility operation is one of many that have taken place, and there will be many more to come.
“Through partnership working we have been able to share information and enhance our access to NET’s CCTV network, all of which means we are better equipped to secure evidence, and also direct our resources in the right places at the right times to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour - as well as providing that reassuring presence that people tell us they really appreciate when they go into the city centre.”
Shaun Kenneth, service delivery and security manager at NET, said: “December always marks the busiest time of the year for our trams and the wider city. However, this year, through our partnership with the PCC and Nottinghamshire Police we’re pleased to be able help the people of Nottingham feel safer as they enjoy all the city has to offer this festive season.
“High visibility patrols such as this evening’s, mark a key moment in the partnership. Such patrols are an integral part of the Operation Safenet initiative, and are about making sure all our passengers, locals and visitors to the city feel seen and supported.”