Police tram unit closes over cuts

GMP has had a team dedicated to Metrolink for 15 years

A police force is disbanding its tram policing unit after 15 years.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said on Monday it could no longer afford to provide a unit dedicated solely to looking after the Metrolink system.

Operator Serco said it was disappointed with the decision and was discussing alternative measures with GMP.

The dedicated team will be withdrawn from 1 October, though GMP said it would continue to respond to any incidents on the tram system.

It added it had met officials from Serco Metrolink to explain why they were cancelling the contract.

Limited resources

GMP said it was committed to ensuring the safety and security of the public who use the transport system, but had limited resources that must be prioritised.

The move comes after the force was set a budget for the next financial year which required £14m of savings to be found.

It said it would continue to work closely with Serco Metrolink and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) to maintain a high standard of safety and security on the Metrolink system.

In a joint statement with GMPTE, Serco said: "We have enjoyed a good working relationship with Greater Manchester Police and are obviously disappointed that they have had to withdraw resources from the Metrolink system due to budget cuts.

"Maintaining Metrolink's excellent reputation for safety and security remains a priority for us.

"All Police officers, whether in or out of uniform, will remain eligible for free unlimited travel on the tram network, providing both a deterrent to any anti-social activity and a visible reassurance for passengers."

It said the Metrolink system had its own public safety officers who patrolled the network for the last eight hours of operation every day.