Transport police team signal their intent (From The Bolton News)

Transport police team signal their intent

3:30pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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BOLTON’S first dedicated team of neighbourhood transport police officers is set to start patrolling the town’s railways.

British Transport Police is extending the remit of the Manchester Neighbourhood Policing Team to cover Bolton and the surrounding area.

The team will be patrolling the area and will also seek to address issues directly affecting rail users and communities in and around the railways.

And the officers are already lining up operations to tackle local problems such as anti-social behaviour on trains.

Sgt Duncan Berry, who has responsibility for the Bolton area, said: “We have already done quite a lot of work in Bolton and have held a number of surgeries so local people can meet the officers and start to tell us about any problems and issues.

“As a result of this, we have recognised there is an issue with youths and anti-social behaviour in the mornings and afternoons — before and after the school day — particularly between Hall i’th’ Wood and Bromley Cross.”

Now police are planning a crackdown and are running a two-week operation to educate young people about how their behaviour impacts on other rail users.

Sgt Berry said: “Hopefully the children will take note of this and adapt their behaviour accordingly.

“If not, we will not have any hesitation to take action against individuals who continue to cause a nuisance or carry out any criminal behaviour.”

He added: “This is the first of many initiatives to be run in and around Bolton and I hope that local people recognise the efforts BTP is making and engage with us in a bid to address further issues in the future.”

The two-week operation will begin on Thursday, July 16, at stations across Bolton.

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