How we made Public Transport Safer
Operation Varney
Operation Varney was a project in cooperation with Merseyside Police and Arriva buses of Liverpool.
Problems
- Criminal Damage on board the buses and similar offences being caused at bus stops.
- Public Order Offences including using abusive, threatening and intimidating behaviour to members of the community including employees of Arriva.
- Drug use on the buses with the smoking of cannabis being a common problem.
- Theft and attempted theft from employees
- Abuse of alcohol and alcohol related offences by both young persons and adults.
- Breach of Anti Social Behaviour Orders.
Due to the level of antisocial behaviour on buses, Arriva asked us for help; Operation Varney was born. We created a wide-ranging operational specification which defined the problems, solutions and performance indicators of Operation Varney.
The operation was an outstanding success, with positive feedback from the people of Liverpool to to the House Of Commons.
Ministerial Correspondence From: Lord Mackenzie
Thank you so much for letting me have sight of the weekly incident report relating to your exciting project with Arriva transport of Liverpool. I believe it illustrates well how the anti-social elements in the community are prepared to flout the rules if they think they are not going to be challenged and this is the very thing which upsets ordinary, decent travellers.
It totally vindicates the position of the Prime Minister in placing anti-social behaviour of the top of the political agenda and shows that in the main, transgressors will conform when they are challenged. That is the rationale behind the employment of the community support officers throughout the country. It provides reassurance, coupled with the ability to challenge instantly, anti-social behaviour.
I commend the project and commend the plain clothes officers for the work they have been doing on behalf of the community. More power to your elbow!
I am copying this letter together with the incident reports to ministers and the chief constable of Merseyside.
Very best regards
Brian Mackenzie
cc: Home secretary, Transport secretary, Chief Constable of Merseyside
