Safer Transport Command

The Metropolitan Police Service’s Safer Transport Command unit keeps London moving safely on the London bus system, and in the cab and private vehicle hire industry, through regular patrols and intelligence-led operations.

It is primarily responsible for policing on 11 inner London geographical areas (Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth, Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and the City of Westminster), however some units (Tasking Teams, Work Place Violence Unit, Dip Squad, Operation BusTag, Road Response, Team Red Route Enforcement Team, Cab Enforcement Unit) will maintain a pan-London remit.

The Unit was set up in 2002, in partnership with, and funded by Transport for London, with whom it has a Special Services Agreement.

It underwent a review after five years, which concluded in May 2008. This review identified more effective and efficient ways of delivering a policing service that deals with crime and disorder that effects public perception and reduces the fear of crime.

The three objectives of the Safer Transport Command are:

To reduce the fear of crime and ensure the safety and security of staff and the public on and around the London bus system and its interchanges with other parts of the public transport system by:

• Reducing bus related crime
• Reducing anti-social behaviour
• Preventing and reducing crime against the bus infrastructure

To maximise people movement and minimise delays and disruption on London’s surface transport, in particular by:

• Ensuring the efficient movement of buses by dealing with and preventing obstructions
• Reducing congestion by unplanned traffic problems, collisions and Transport for London Road Network parking contraventions
• To work with Metropolitan Police Service Traffic Operational Command Unit, to support Transport for London’s wider strategic aspirations with regard to walking, cycling and road safety

To enforce the law relating to taxis and private hire vehicles to ensure the safety of the public by:

• Reducing the risk of cab-related sexual offences and other serious crime
• Reducing taxi-touting by tackling illegal cab drivers and operators
• Wherever possible supporting the Public Carriage Office with ensuring compliance with regulations and enhancing the safety and efficiency of taxi and Private Hire Vehicles operations

Reassurance Teams
Reassurance Teams provide safe and efficient journeys across 11 inner London geographical areas (Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth, Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and the City of Westminster).
They provide reassurance; reduce crime, the fear of crime, and anti social behaviour through effective community consultation, and a strong partnership approach. They also ensure a robust policing presence on Friday and Saturday nights in respect of night bus crime and taxi touts.

Reporting bus crime in South East London

Tasking Teams
Tasking Teams provide extra support through their enhanced enforcement capability and policing presence to enduring hotspots. They also carry out intelligence led deployments in support of both Transport Operational Command Unit and Safer Transport Teams. They are pan-London based and support other Transport Operational Command Unit pan London units in terms of locating and arresting suspects.

Dip Squad
The Dip Squad proactively target and arrest persons responsible for ‘pick pocketing’ and snatch offences on buses, bus stops, and transport hubs.

Operation BusTag
Operation BusTag identify, arrest and prosecute persons responsible for committing criminal damage to the buses through on-bus Closed Circuit Television.

Road Response Team
Road Response Teams provide a fast, dedicated response to congestion issues to assist in their return to normality and assist in efficient management of the Transport for London Road Network.

Red Route Enforcement Team
The Red Route Enforcement Teams keep London moving by maintaining parking, stopping and loading regulations, and dealing with incidents and events that effects the flow of traffic along the Transport for London Road Network.

Cab Enforcement Unit
The Cab Enforcement Unit is dedicated to providing a safe environment in the licensed taxi trade industry by targeting sex offenders, dealing with the unlicensed cab trade, and enforcing cab regulations.

2012 Games Unit
The 2012 Games Unit has been created to deliver safe and secure transport for the London 2012 games. It will be at the forefront of keeping London moving safely by policing the Olympic Route Network and transport hubs.

Intelligence Unit
The Intelligence Unit provides intelligence to support all operational teams within the Transport OCU, by identifying crime and disorder priority locations, and offenders on the bus network.

Metrocomm
MetroComm is the joint Command and Control Centre for both the Transport Operational Command Unit and the Traffic Operational Command Unit. It works in close partnership with the London Buses Control Room known as Centrecomm, the London Traffic Control Centre, outside agencies such as the Highways Agency, and the Metropolitan Police Service’s new Central Communications Command centres at Hendon, Bow and Lambeth.