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Tram cops axed to save cash
11/ 4/2006
POLICE bosses are to scrap a specialist Metrolink unit - because they can no longer afford to keep the team together.
The Greater Manchester police authority, which has already agreed to cut police numbers by 216 and freeze recruitment as part of cuts totalling '14.5m during this financial year, will scrap the Metrolink unit on October 1.
The dedicated team - based at tram headquarters in Queens Road, Cheetham Hill - has an inspector, three sergeants, 24 constables and a civillian communications officer who sits in the Metrolink control room.
Police, who are also retiring 35 out of their 150 dogs to save money, say the officers will be redeployed. They insist that the decision is not a bid to force more cash out of operators Serco and owners Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority who agreed to pay around '500,000 a year to keep the unit following a two-year wrangle six years ago. GMP had initially demanded '1.2m.
'Politics'
"It is simply a question of budget cuts. We cannot afford to keep the unit," said a spokesman.
But Blackley MP Graham Stringer accused chief constable Michael Todd of "playing politics" as local elections approach next month.
"I do not believe this is a sensible or objective way to behave. They should not just abandon whole areas of Greater Manchester. It is a ludicrous policy.'
Chief Supt Phil Hollowood, head of the force's Specialist Operations Branch, said: 'The force will continue to respond to any incidents that may occur on the tram system.'
Relationship
The transport authority's acting director general, Geoff Inskip, and Serco Metrolink's managing director, David Godley, said in a statement: 'We have enjoyed a good working relationship with Greater Manchester Police and are obviously disappointed that they have had to withdraw resources from the system due to budget cuts.
'Maintaining Metrolink's excellent reputation for safety and security remains a priority for us and, over the next few months, we will be working with GMP to look into alternative measures.'
GMP was unable to give figures for the number of crimes solved on the system by the unit but Metrolink says crimes fell from 375 in 2001 to 141 last year.
Muggers
The unit has been on high alert until recently following the London Tube bombings and also carries out undercover operations on muggers and pickpockets.
Passsenger transport authority chairman Roger Jones said: 'I am obviously disappointed and some will say why should we have to pay the police at all to do their job.
'But we have six months and we are looking at whatever we can do to make sure there is some kind of force in place by then.' For the past two years Metrolink has had its own 'public safety officers' who patrol in teams of two.
WHAT's your opinion of the police axeing of the specialist Metro unit?
Most recent 2 of 16 user comments
12/04/2006 at 11:59
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Did the authorities do enough to prepare for the icy conditions?
What about the sheer scale of lawlessness that exists amongst young people? that is the crux of the matter and the root cause of all these problems.
Parents who live on the system.. what and where are your kids playing, drinking, smoking weed tonight?
The G.M.P metrolink officers have a thankless task, they are a resource for the entire force (x division) and often get called to do other divisions work,
I know that something as simple as reporting somebody for a minor bylaw offence results in hours lost in preparing a case file, further enquiries, statement taking,...it takes hours and hours!
And yes, the inspectors do need police officers to back them up on station blocks, because sadly if its a case of stop and speak to a metrolink employee or assault them and avoid giving any details...the latter seems to prevail.
Come on goverment, go back to basics and cut all this beuracratic nonsense and let the police do want they want to do...police the streets and rail network.
13/04/2006 at 00:48
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