Five arrests made at Victoria Metrolink station during TravelSafe operation

During yesterday's operation, 1,690 passengers were engaged with throughout the day, with 78 of those travelling passengers were handed fines for fare evasion

Officers from Greater Manchester Police's Transport Unit, alongside partners from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), conducted an operation at Manchester’s Victoria Metrolink station yesterday (Wednesday), which saw five arrests for a variety of criminal offences.

Three men aged 34, 33 and 31 who were respectively wanted for a serious assault, breach of a court order and a theft were apprehended, alongside another two men who were arrested for fraud and immigration offences.

During the operation, 1,690 passengers were engaged with throughout the day, with 78 of those travelling passengers were handed fines for fare evasion.

The Greater Manchester TravelSafe Partnership exists to keep public transport safe across by offering reassurance to passengers and preventing and dealing with incidents of crime, antisocial behaviour and fare evasion.

Greater Manchester Police officers and TfGM staff dedicate more than 5,000 hours per week patrolling the Metrolink and bus networks, day and night, seven days a week.

PC Matthew Cowin, from GMP’s Transport Unit, said: “This was one of the many TravelSafe operations that we run throughout Greater Manchester, with Victoria Metrolink station being one of the busiest due to the footfall that passes through there on a daily basis.

“Keeping the general public safe on the transport network is a massive priory for us as there a lot of people who use the network to get to work, socialise with friends or visit family on the Greater Manchester area.”

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