Violent passengers face life travel ban
ABUSIVE and violent passengers could soon face being banned for life from Greater Manchester’s buses and trams in a first outside London.
Faced with a huge increase in verbal and physical abuse on public transport, the region’s mayor, Andy Burnham, has been given the green light by secretary Amber Rudd for extra tools to take action against thugs blighting the network.
Still subject to parliamentary approval, the powers would allow transport bosses to apply to the courts for civil injunctions against those involved in antisocial behaviour.
Culprits could be banned from any or all Metrolink stops and interchanges – meaning they would be unable to board trams and some buses – although the injunctions could not apply to bus stops as this land is not owned by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
It is the first time such a move has been made outside the capital.
Transport for London (TfL) bosses already have such powers. Those under 18 could face a ban of up to three years, while adults could be given an ‘indefinite’ red card. Such details would be considered in the courts. This latest step follows a series of concerning incidents, revealed in a report last month, with the Oldham line the worst affected.
Year-on-year, incidents of abuse, both physical and verbal, have increased on trams, at bus stations and on bus services.
Between April 2016 and July 2017, there were 86 assaults on Metrolink, 46 of which were on staff.
There were also 156 cases of threatening or abusive behaviour recorded on the tram network.
Mr Burnham described anti-social behaviour as a ‘blight on our communities’, adding: “We’ve seen a steady increase in the numbers of incidents reported in recent years and I am not prepared to sit back and allow free rein to the small minority of people who think it acceptable to intimidate, threaten or abuse transport workers and commuters.
“That is why I asked the Home Secretary to grant TfGM the power to issue civil injunctions and help them battle the eroding effect that antisocial behaviour can have.”
Along with officers who patrol the network, Mr Burnham said the new powers would be a ‘welcome addition to the armoury’.
Amber Rudd, home secretary, said it was important that transport bosses have the tools to tackle crime on the network.